Black Cuckoo
Cuculus clamosus
This large cuckoo has two morphs: (1) entirely black except for white tips to the long tail and sometimes limited white barring elsewhere, and (2) dark-backed with a rufous chest and black-and-white-barred underparts. The latter are more frequently found in West Central Africa. It has a characteristically swerving flight. It is resident and migrant, preferring thicker woodland and forest, It produces a mournful, three-noted call “I’m so saaaaad” call, the last note rising. Similar dark-morph Jacobin and Levaillant’s cuckoos differ from Black Cuckoo in having crests and strong white flashes in the wings.
Identification
The black cuckoo is a medium-sized cuckoo. The sexes are similar, the plumage varying by subspecies; Cuculus clamosus clamosus has upper parts black glossed with green, slatey-grey wings and black tail tipped with white and sometimes with the outer feathers barred or spotted with white or buff; Cuculus clamosus gabonensis is mostly black with a red throat and black and white barring on the belly.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cuculus clamosus
- Authority
- Latham, 1801
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Genus
- Cuculus
Range and habitat
The subspecies Cuculus clamosus gabonensis is a resident in Central Africa, whereas the Southern African subspecies Cuculus clamosus clamosus is migratory, breeding in Southern Africa in September to December, then moving in March to Central, Eastern and West Africa. The range of this species extends from Liberia to Ethiopia in the east and Angola and South Africa. It is a woodland bird but avoids the interior of dense forests, preferring acacia woodland, thickets, riverside woodland, plantations and trees around villages.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
The black cuckoo feeds mainly on hairy caterpillars but also consumes termites and ants, including winged ones caught in flight, beetles, grasshoppers and other insects, as well as birds' eggs and nestlings.<p>The black cuckoo is a brood parasite. Its main hosts are bushshrikes, particularly the tropical boubou and crimson-breasted shrike. When parasitising the boubou, the eggs hatch after about fourteen days, three days before the boubou's eggs. The cuckoo chick evicts other eggs and nestlings usually within thirty hours of hatching. It is fledged in about sixteen days and leaves the nest a few days later. The foster parents continue to feed it for another three weeks.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Amethyst Brown-Dove
Phapitreron amethystinus
A medium-sized dove of foothill and montane forest. Brown on the upperparts, head, and chest, with a grayish belly and pale gray corners to the tail. Note the pale streak under the eye and the bare pink facial skin in front of and behind it. Similar to White-eared Brown-Dove, but Amethyst has purplish iridescence on the back of the neck and pale buff under the base of the tail. Voice includes a deep “hoop,” given singly or in series of two or three. Also gives a deep growling sound.
Flammulated Flycatcher
Ramphotrigon flammulatum
Medium-sized flycatcher of thorn forest and brushy woodland in tropical lowlands and foothills of west Mexico. Mostly sluggish and easily overlooked unless singing; tends to stay within cover rather than coming out into open areas. Resembles a Myiarchus flycatcher (especially Dusky-capped), but note the pale spectacles, faint dusky streaks on the breast (or flammulations ) and extensive cinnamon edging to the wing feathers.
Jamaican Euphonia
Euphonia jamaica
A very small and active inhabitant of most wooded habitats and gardens where it forages mostly on fruits and flowers. Note this species’ short, stubby bill, and mostly gray head and underparts. The Orangequit is somewhat similar but is readily distinguished by its longer and slightly curved bill. Additionally, male Orangequits are darker gray and have an orange throat, while female Orangequits have brown upperparts. Song is rapid-fire jumble of squeaks, whistles, and buzzes. The call note is a sharp “tseet.” Jamaican Euphonias also give a scratchy, squeaky “bao,” which is given singly, in series, or interjected into songs.
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