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| − | [[Image:2007_11_17_Black_Cuckoo.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Alan+Manson|Alan Manson}}<br />Pietermaritzburg, [[South Africa]]]] | + | [[Image:2007_11_17_Black_Cuckoo.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Alan+Manson|Alan Manson}}<br />Pietermaritzburg, [[South Africa]], November 2007]] |
;[[:Category:Cuculus|Cuculus]] clamosus | ;[[:Category:Cuculus|Cuculus]] clamosus | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Length 29-31 cm, mass about 90 g. Plumage is black with a greenish gloss on the upperparts, and black below. The tail has a white tip. Some individuals (more females than males) have rufous and brown barring on the underparts. The bill, legs and feet are black, and the eyes brown. | + | Length 29-31 cm, mass about 90 g. Plumage is black with a greenish gloss on the upperparts, and black below. The tail has a white tip. Some individuals (more females than males) have rufous and brown barring on the underparts. The bill, legs and feet are black, and the eyes brown. <br /> |
| − | + | There is variation in the colour of the underparts between the two subspecies. | |
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | Sub-Saharan [[Africa]] | + | Sub-Saharan [[Africa]]<br /> |
| + | '''Western Africa''': [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[Guinea]], [[Mali]], [[Sierra Leone]], [[Liberia]], [[Ivory Coast]], [[Ghana]], [[Togo]], [[Nigeria]], [[Chad]], [[Cameroon]], [[Central African Republic]], [[Equatorial Guinea]], [[Gabon]], [[Congo]], [[Angola]]<br c/> | ||
| + | '''Eastern Africa''': [[Sudan]], [[Eritrea]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Kenya]], [[Uganda]], [[Rwanda]], [[Burundi]], [[Tanzania]], [[Zambia]], [[Mozambique]], [[Malawi]]<br /> | ||
| + | '''Southern Africa''': [[Namibia]], [[Botswana]], [[Zimbabwe]], [[South Africa]], [[KwaZulu-Natal]], [[Swaziland]] | ||
| + | Southern African birds are intra-African migrants, arriving in their breeding grounds in September and October. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | + | ====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== | |
| − | + | There are two subspecies: | |
| + | *''C. c. gabonensis'': | ||
| + | :*[[Liberia]] to [[Ghana]], [[Nigeria]], southern [[Sudan]], [[Uganda]] and western [[Kenya]] | ||
| + | *''C. c. clamosus'': The southern race (described above) | ||
| + | :*Highlands of [[Ethiopia]] and [[Somalia]] to eastern [[South Africa]] | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Forest, woodland, thickets, and plantations. | Forest, woodland, thickets, and plantations. | ||
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====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
Forages, mainly for caterpillars, in the canopy; sometimes takes prey aerially or on the ground. Also eats other insects, birds eggs and nestlings. | Forages, mainly for caterpillars, in the canopy; sometimes takes prey aerially or on the ground. Also eats other insects, birds eggs and nestlings. | ||
| − | |||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
A brood parasite; hosts are mainly ''Laniarius'' shrikes, including the [[Tropical Boubou]], [[Southern Boubou]], and [[Crimson-breasted Shrike]] in southern Africa. | A brood parasite; hosts are mainly ''Laniarius'' shrikes, including the [[Tropical Boubou]], [[Southern Boubou]], and [[Crimson-breasted Shrike]] in southern Africa. | ||
| − | |||
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
The song is distinctive: The male has a loud, monotonous whistle "hoop-hoo whoooo"; also a wild, whirling "whirly, whirly, whirly,.....". In southern Africa call from September to December. | The song is distinctive: The male has a loud, monotonous whistle "hoop-hoo whoooo"; also a wild, whirling "whirly, whirly, whirly,.....". In southern Africa call from September to December. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. ''Robert's Birds of Southern Africa'', 7th edition. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 0620340533 | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}#Avibase |
| + | #Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. ''Robert's Birds of Southern Africa'', 7th edition. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 0620340533 | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Cuculus+clamosus}} | {{GSearch|Cuculus+clamosus}} | ||
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Cuculus]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Cuculus]] | ||
Revision as of 22:05, 3 November 2009
- Cuculus clamosus
Identification
Length 29-31 cm, mass about 90 g. Plumage is black with a greenish gloss on the upperparts, and black below. The tail has a white tip. Some individuals (more females than males) have rufous and brown barring on the underparts. The bill, legs and feet are black, and the eyes brown.
There is variation in the colour of the underparts between the two subspecies.
Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa
Western Africa: Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Angola
Eastern Africa: Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi
Southern Africa: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland
Southern African birds are intra-African migrants, arriving in their breeding grounds in September and October.
Taxonomy
Subspecies[1]
There are two subspecies:
- C. c. gabonensis:
- C. c. clamosus: The southern race (described above)
- Highlands of Ethiopia and Somalia to eastern South Africa
Habitat
Forest, woodland, thickets, and plantations.
Behaviour
Generally solitary. Seldom seen, even when calling; usually perched high in a tree.
Diet
Forages, mainly for caterpillars, in the canopy; sometimes takes prey aerially or on the ground. Also eats other insects, birds eggs and nestlings.
Breeding
A brood parasite; hosts are mainly Laniarius shrikes, including the Tropical Boubou, Southern Boubou, and Crimson-breasted Shrike in southern Africa.
Vocalisation
The song is distinctive: The male has a loud, monotonous whistle "hoop-hoo whoooo"; also a wild, whirling "whirly, whirly, whirly,.....". In southern Africa call from September to December.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Avibase
- Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 0620340533
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Black Cuckoo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black_Cuckoo
