Newsletter / Blog
2011-10-22 Aves Bird of the week - Red-chested Cuckoo - Cuculus solitarius
The Red-chested Cuckoo - Cuculus solitarius - is found in Africa south of the Sahara. In Southern Africa it is a common breeding
migrant, in the eastern half of southern Africa,
and is quite common in protected areas. The preferred habitats for the Red-chested
Cuckoo are woodlands but lives in wide range of habitats.
The Red-chested
Cuckoo is normally seen by itself rather than in the company of birds of the
same species and is highly vocal.
It feeds mostly
on invertebrates, particularly hairy caterpillars but also grasshoppers and
beetles.
The Red-chested
Cuckoo takes on more than a single mate (it is bigamous). It is a brood
parasite and the host incubates the egg and cares for the chick. The surrogate
family then raise the chicks. The female Red-chested Cuckoo lays between 20
eggs per season in different nests. The egg-laying season is from
October-January. It mostly parasitizes Cape Robin-chat, rushing into their
nests, and removing the host's eggs before laying one of its own. Once the
chick is 2 days old, it evicts the host's eggs and nestlings. It stays in the
nest for 17 to 21 days, and is dependent on its host parents for 20 to 25 days
more, before becoming fully independent.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
These highly
vocal and striking birds can be seen on the following Aves Birding Tours: -
Aves Eastern Cape Tour
/ Safari / Adventure.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves KZN Tour /
Safari / Adventure.
Aves North East
Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North West Tour / Safari
/ Adventure.
Aves Western Cape Tour
/ Safari / Adventure.
Aves West Coast
Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Photographed at
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens by Peter Sievers. |