The black cuckoo is a species of cuckoo found across sub-Saharan Africa. It belongs to the Cuculidae family of birds, which are best known for being brood parasites – meaning they lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, who raise their young.
The black cuckoo has several common names, but is most widely known as the pied cuckoo. This name refers to its distinctive black and white plumage. Other common names includeStriped cuckoo, White-collared cuckoo, and Long-tailed cuckoo. Its scientific name is Clamator jacobinus.
What does the black cuckoo look like?
The adult black cuckoo is unmistakable with its striking black and white plumage. The head, neck, mantle, wings and tail are glossy blue-black. The underparts are white, including the throat, breast and belly. There is also a distinctive broad white collar across the upper breast. The eyes are red-orange and the long graduated tail has white outer tail feathers.
Males and females look alike. Juveniles are duller and browner in coloration, lacking the crisp black and white plumage of the adults. They molt into adult plumage by their first breeding season.
Black cuckoos are medium-large sized cuckoos, measuring around 43–48 cm (17–19 in) in length with a wingspan of 60–66 cm (24–26 in). Their long tail accounts for around half of their total body length. Adult birds weigh 105–188 g (3.7–6.6 oz).
Where does the black cuckoo live?
The black cuckoo has a widespread distribution across sub-Saharan Africa. Its breeding range extends from Senegal and Gambia in the west to Ethiopia and Somalia in the east. It is found across a broad band south of the Sahara desert down to northern South Africa.
During the breeding season, black cuckoos are found in open woodland habitats including miombo, acacia savannas and forest edges. They require trees for nesting sites but also open areas to forage.
Many populations migrate out of southern Africa in the winter months. Northern tropical populations may be resident year-round on breeding grounds. Migratory birds spend the non-breeding season in tropical Africa, extending their range south to South Africa.
What does the black cuckoo eat?
The diet of the black cuckoo consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates including caterpillars, beetles, crickets, termites, and ants. Less often they may eat small lizards, frogs and even nestling birds.
Foraging takes place mostly in trees and bushes, with the cuckoo clambering around branches seeking prey. It sometimes drops down to the ground to snap up insects and other prey items. Its long tail provides balance and support as the cuckoo stretches acrobatically across branches and hangs upside down while feeding.
What is the black cuckoo’s breeding behavior?
The black cuckoo, like all cuckoos, is an obligate brood parasite. This means it lays its eggs in the nests of other species, leaving them to raise its chicks.
Each female may deposit 15-20 eggs over the course of a breeding season, distributing them among many different host nests. Favorite hosts include white-browed sparrow-weavers, buffalo weavers, and starlings.
Once the cuckoo drops its egg in the host nest, the chick hatches earlier and grows faster than the host young. It uses its gape to monopolize food brought by the host parents. Within days, it often pushes out eggs or chicks from the nest.
Young black cuckoos fledge the nest after 20-23 days, which is faster than typical host species. This reduces time spent in the nest and thus rejection by the host parents. After leaving the nest, the juvenile black cuckoo quickly becomes independent.
What is the conservation status of the black cuckoo?
The black cuckoo has an extremely large range and population, estimated globally at 5-50 million individual birds. Although population trends have not been quantified, the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for a vulnerable designation on the IUCN Red List. For these reasons, the black cuckoo is evaluated as Least Concern.
There are no major threats to this adaptable species across its widespread distribution. As long as suitable woodland habitat remains, the black cuckoo’s future appears secure. Its brood parasitic strategy also buffers it from typical reproductive threats that could impact population levels.
Where can I see a black cuckoo?
The widespread distribution of the black cuckoo across sub-Saharan Africa means it can be readily seen across much of the continent south of the Sahara. Some prime locations include:
– Botswana – excellent sightings in Chobe and Moremi Game Reserves. The call is often heard before the bird is seen.
– Zambia – spot them in South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi National Parks. Excellent sightings on the edges of mopane woodland.
– Tanzania – find them in Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks. Scan Acacia trees for the distinctive shape.
– South Africa – Kruger National Park offers reliable sightings, especially around Shahangu waterhole. Also try Namaqua National Park.
– Kenya – common in Amboseli and Maasai Mara Reserves. Check acacia trees and woodland edges.
Key facts about the black cuckoo
Scientific name | Clamator jacobinus |
Common names | Pied cuckoo, Striped cuckoo, White-collared cuckoo, Long-tailed cuckoo |
Wingspan | 60-66 cm |
Length | 43-48 cm |
Weight | 105-188 g |
Diet | Insects and invertebrates |
IUCN status | Least Concern |
Conclusion
With its striking black and white plumage, red eyes and distinctive call, the pied cuckoo is one of Africa’s most recognizable birds. As a brood parasite, its breeding strategy is fascinating to observe in action. Sightings are common across sub-Saharan Africa in a variety of open woodland habitats. With a secure future ahead, birders should have no trouble crossing paths with the charismatic black cuckoo.
The black cuckoo, also widely known as the pied cuckoo, is an unmistakable African bird thanks to its bold black and white plumage. Ranging across sub-Saharan Africa, it inhabits open woodlands where it frequently parasitizes the nests of small songbirds. A successful brood parasite, the adaptable black cuckoo has a global population estimated at 5-50 million and is classified as Least Concern. Birders can readily find the black cuckoo in protected areas across its range, where its distinctive shape in flight and bubbling call will give away its presence.