Cuculus clamosus
The Black Cuckoo (Cuculus clamosus) is a medium-sized bird, typically measuring 30-34 cm in length, characterized by its striking sooty-black plumage, which often exhibits a subtle iridescent sheen. A distinctive bright yellow bill with a black culmen and a prominent red orbital ring stand out against its dark feathers, serving as key identification marks. Taxonomically, it belongs to the family Cuculidae, sharing its genus *Cuculus* with other Old World cuckoos like the Common Cuckoo, and is...
Primarily inhabits a variety of wooded environments, including savannas, woodlands, acacia thickets, riverine forests, and evergreen montane forests, typically found from sea level up to 3,000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding extensively on hairy caterpillars, which are toxic to many other birds, as well as other insects and invertebrates, typically foraging by gleaning from foliage or the ground.
Diurnal and often secretive, the Black Cuckoo can be challenging to observe visually, often betraying its presence only by its loud vocalizations. Males are highly territorial during the breeding season, establishing and defending their domains through persistent calling. As an obligate brood par...
The Black Cuckoo is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, with its breeding range extending from Senegal and Gambia in West Africa, eastward through the Congo Basin to Ethiopia and Somalia, and south throughout East Africa to Southern Africa. It is found across a broad latitudinal and longitudina...
Least Concern
- The Black Cuckoo is an obligate brood parasite, meaning it lays its eggs in the nests of other bird species and provides no parental care. - Its scientific name, *Cuculus clamosus*, directly reflects its most notable characteristic: 'clamosus' is Latin for 'noisy' or 'clamorous', referring to i...