Cercococcyx montanus
The Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo (Cercococcyx montanus) is a strikingly elegant, yet notoriously elusive member of the cuckoo family, Cuculidae. Measuring approximately 28-31 cm (11-12 inches) in length, its most distinctive features are its disproportionately long, graduated tail and its finely barred underparts. Adults exhibit a dark grey head and upperparts, contrasting with a whitish belly heavily barred with rufous-brown. A prominent yellowish-green orbital ring encircles its dark eyes, aid...
Found primarily in dense, evergreen montane and submontane forests, typically at elevations ranging from 900 to 2,500 meters, preferring the mid-story and undergrowth.
Feeds predominantly on insects, with a strong preference for hairy caterpillars, but also consumes grasshoppers, mantises, beetles, and ants, typically gleaned from foliage.
The Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo is a highly secretive and largely solitary bird, often detected solely by its distinctive calls. It is primarily diurnal, spending its time stealthily moving through dense forest foliage, making visual observations challenging. Foraging involves meticulously gleaning...
The Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo has a discontinuous distribution across the montane regions of East and Central Africa. Its breeding range encompasses eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, and potentially northern Mozambique. It is generally...
Least Concern
- Its long, graduated tail can be nearly as long as its body, giving it a distinctive silhouette when rarely seen. - Despite its widespread distribution, its extremely secretive nature means it's far more often heard than seen, making its melancholy call a defining sound of its habitat. - Like ma...