Black cuckoo

The black cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. The species is distributed widely across sub-Saharan Africa. There are two subspecies. This cuckoo has a very wide range and is quite common so it is classified as a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Distribution

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Typical Environment

Occurs widely from West and Central Africa through East and southern Africa. It favors forest edges, riverine woodland, moist evergreen and miombo woodlands, and dense thickets within savanna mosaics. It keeps to the canopy and midstory, often near watercourses. The species undertakes intra-African movements, with some populations moving southwards in the wet season. It avoids open grasslands and very arid zones.

Altitude Range

0–2500 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size28–30 cm

Wing Span40–45 cm

Male Weight0.11 kg

Female Weight0.1 kg

Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The black cuckoo is an obligate brood parasite, placing its eggs in the nests of other birds such as bulbuls and robin-chats. Males are typically uniform black, while females can show a rufous, barred hepatic morph. Its loud, far-carrying whistles often signal the start of the rainy season in many parts of Africa.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

shy and skulking

Flight Pattern

strong flier with direct, swift wingbeats

Social Behavior

Generally solitary or in pairs, keeping to dense foliage. As a brood parasite, it does not build its own nest and lays eggs in the nests of other passerines, where the chick outcompetes the hosts' young. Courtship involves calling and display flights through the canopy.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

The call is a series of loud, fluty, mournful whistles that carry over long distances. Males call persistently during the wet season, often delivering evenly spaced notes in repetitive sequences.

Unlock detailed bird insights with Pro access today.

Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Black cuckoo-dove

The black cuckoo-dove or black dove, also known as the slaty cuckoo dove, is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Lesser Sunda Islands, being found on Timor, Wetar, Rote, and Atauro. It inhabits primary and secondary monsoon forest, eucalyptus forest, and woodlands. It is 38.5 cm (15.2 in) long on average and is mainly dark bluish-gray, lighter on the head and underparts and darker on the wings and tail. It has yellow orbital skin.

Black curassow

The black curassow, also known as the smooth-billed curassow and the crested curassow, is a species of bird in the family Cracidae, the chachalacas, guans, and curassows. It is found in humid forests in northern South America in Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas including Suriname, and far northern Brazil, and is introduced to Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Lesser Antilles. It is the only Crax curassow where the male and female cannot be separated by plumage, as both are essentially black with a white crissum, and have a yellow or orange-red cere.

Black currawong

The black currawong, also known locally as the black jay, is a large passerine bird endemic to Tasmania and the nearby islands within the Bass Strait. One of three currawong species in the genus Strepera, it is closely related to the butcherbirds and Australian magpie within the family Artamidae. It is a large crow-like bird, around 50 cm (20 in) long on average, with yellow irises, a heavy bill, and black plumage with white wing patches. The male and female are similar in appearance. Three subspecies are recognised, one of which, Strepera fuliginosa colei of King Island, is vulnerable to extinction.

Black drongo

The black drongo is a small Asian passerine bird of the drongo family Dicruridae. It is a common resident breeder in much of tropical southern Asia from southwest Iran through Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka east to southern China and Indonesia and accidental visitor of Japan. It is an all black bird with a distinctive forked tail and measures 28 cm (11 in) in length. It feeds on insects, and is common in open agricultural areas and light forest throughout its range, perching conspicuously on a bare perch or along power or telephone lines.

Black eagle

The black eagle is a bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae, and is the only member of the genus Ictinaetus. They soar over forests in the hilly regions of tropical and subtropical South and Southeast Asia, as well as southeastern China. They hunt mammals and birds, particularly at their nests. They are easily identified by their widely splayed and long primary "fingers", the characteristic silhouette, slow flight and yellow ceres and legs that contrast with their dark feathers.