Red-chested Cuckoo

Overview

The red-chested cuckoo (Cuculus solitarius) is a medium-sized cuckoo species found in Africa, south of the Sahara. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and is a common breeding migrant in Southern Africa.

Identification

• Approximately 31 cm in length.
• Males feature slate-grey upper parts, a pale grey throat, and a dark grey tail tipped with white.
• The breast is rufous or cinnamon, often with barring, contrasting with a creamy-white or pale buff belly.
• Femiles resemble males but possess a duller breast colour with variable amounts of barring.

Habitat

This species inhabits woodlands, forests, and plantations across a wide range of African countries, excluding the drier western parts of Southern Africa. It is typically encountered alone rather than in social groups.

Diet

The red-chested cuckoo feeds on insects such as hairy caterpillars, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, slugs, and snails, as well as small vertebrates and berries.

Did you know?

Named "Piet-my-vrou" in Afrikaans after its distinctive call, this bird is a brood parasite that lays eggs in the nests of about fifteen different small bird species, with the Cape robin-chat, Cape wagtail, and white-throated robin-chat being the most common victims.