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Dideric Cuckoo - BirdForum Opus

Alternative name: Diederik Cuckoo

Adult male
Photo © by Reader
Lower Sabie, Kruger National Park, South Africa, November 2009
Chrysococcyx caprius

Identification

19 cm (7½ in)
A striking metallic greeny-bronze bird with a red eye. Underside is white centrally but barred dark on flanks.
Juveniles and females can occur in a much more reddish plumage.

Distribution

Rufous juvenile
Photo © by MacNara
Nakuru National Park, Kenya, December 2008

Sub-Saharan Africa and Arabian Peninsula.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species1.

Habitat

It inhabits a wide range of wooded and bushy grassland habitats.

Behaviour

Solitary or in pairs. More conspicuous than other African Cuckoos.

Diet

Juvenile, Green iridescent form
Photo © by whiteheadedvulture
Accra, Ghana, October 2016

They forage in the canopy, eating invertebrates, mainly caterpillars; with the addition of seeds and eggs of host birds.

Breeding

A brood parasite; hosts include Red Bishop, Cape Sparrow, Southern Masked-Weaver, Village Weaver, Cape Weaver and Cape Wagtail.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Avibase
  3. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved July 2016)
  4. Birdforum thread discussing the id of this species

Recommended Citation

External Links

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