Chrysococcyx flavigularis
The Yellow-throated Cuckoo, *Chrysococcyx flavigularis*, is a jewel-toned, elusive member of the cuckoo family (Cuculidae) found in the lowland rainforests of West and Central Africa. Males boast brilliant iridescent green or bronzy-green upperparts, contrasting sharply with a vivid yellow throat, white breast, and finely barred flanks. Females are generally duller, often with less extensive yellow on the throat and sometimes more mottled plumage, while juveniles show further differences. Thi...
This cuckoo primarily inhabits tropical lowland rainforests, dense secondary forests, and gallery forests, typically found from sea level up to elevations of about 1,000 to 1,500 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, its diet consists mainly of caterpillars (including hairy ones), ants, beetles, and spiders, which it gleans from forest foliage.
The Yellow-throated Cuckoo is a highly secretive and solitary bird, spending much of its time high in the dense canopy, making it challenging to observe. It is primarily diurnal, though its distinctive calls are often heard at dusk and dawn. Foraging involves meticulously gleaning insects, partic...
The Yellow-throated Cuckoo is a resident species with a largely fragmented distribution across the tropical lowland rainforests of West and Central Africa. Its range extends from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Ghana in West Africa, through Nigeria, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea, into t...
Least Concern
- The Yellow-throated Cuckoo is an obligate brood parasite, meaning it lays its eggs exclusively in the nests of other bird species, rather than building its own or raising its young. - Despite its striking coloration, it is notoriously difficult to spot, preferring to remain hidden high in the d...