- Cercococcyx mechowi
Identification
33-36cm
- Dark brown upperparts
- Underparts barred brown and white
- Brown barred long tail
- White under-wing coverts
Distribution
Sierra Leone to Zaire and Angola and on to Uganda and northwestern Tanzania.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Clements recognizes these subspecies[1]:
- C. m. mechowi: Sierra Leone eastward to eastern Nigeria
- C. m. lemaireae: western Cameroon and northwestern Angola eastward through Uganda and northwestern Tanzania
Subspecies occidentalis is usually considered a synonym of lemaireae. Similarly, subspecies wellsi is considered a synonym of mechowi.
Habitat
Lowland forest. Usually in lower levels and in dense undergrowth, often near watercourses.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on insects, mainly caterpillars. Takes also small snails and seeds.
Breeding
Breeds in the rainy season. A brood parasitic. Some known hosts are Brown Illadopsis, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher and probably also Forest Robin.
Movements
A residents species. Some seasonal wandering recorded.
Vocalisation
Song: hit hit hit
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, M. Smith, and C. L. Wood. 2024. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2024. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2024. IOC World Bird List (v 14.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.14.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1997. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334221
- Avibase
- The Avian Brood Parasites by Paul A. Johnsgard
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 11 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Dusky_Long-tailed_Cuckoo
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
