Diederik cuckoo

Diederik Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius), also known as the Didric Cuckoo or Emerald Cuckoo, is a species of cuckoo that is native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is known for its striking green plumage and the distinctive call that gives it its name. The Diederik Cuckoo is a brood parasite, meaning it lays its eggs in the nests of other bird species.

Description

The Diederik Cuckoo is a small to medium-sized cuckoo, measuring 18 to 20 cm in length. The adult male has a glossy green back, wings, and tail, with a white underbelly. The eyes are red, and the bill is black. Females and juveniles are less brightly colored, with a greenish-bronze back and a barred underbelly.

Distribution and Habitat

The Diederik Cuckoo is widely distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa, where it inhabits open woodlands, savannahs, and forest edges. It is a migratory bird in some parts of its range, moving with the rains to exploit areas with abundant insect prey.

Behavior

Feeding

Diederik Cuckoos are primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects, including caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers. They are known to follow swarms of army ants to catch insects fleeing from the ants.

Reproduction

As a brood parasite, the Diederik Cuckoo does not build its own nest. Instead, the female lays her eggs in the nests of other bird species, particularly weavers (Ploceidae). The cuckoo egg hatches earlier than the host's eggs, and the cuckoo chick often ejects the host's eggs or young from the nest. The host birds then raise the cuckoo chick as their own. This reproductive strategy allows the Diederik Cuckoo to lay more eggs over the course of a breeding season than if it were raising its own young.

Conservation

The Diederik Cuckoo is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It has a wide range and a large, stable population. However, like many species, it faces threats from habitat destruction and degradation.

Cultural Significance

In some African cultures, the call of the Diederik Cuckoo is associated with the arrival of rain and is considered a harbinger of good fortune.

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Diederik cuckoo gallery

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  Chrysococcyx caprius, a, Johann Grobbelaar
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  Chrysococcyx caprius00
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  Diederik cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius (male), at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa