Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
Cercococcyx mechowi
Silhouette: Nicolas Huet le Jeune and Jean-Gabriel Prêtre (vectorized by T. Michael Keesey) · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCuculiformes (Cuckoos)
- FamilyCuculidae (Cuckoos)
- GenusCercococcyx (African Long-tailed Cuckoos)
- SpeciesCercococcyx mechowi (Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo)
About the Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
The dusky long-tailed cuckoo (Cercococcyx mechowi) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is found in forests in Central Africa. The IUCN has assessed it as a least-concern species. The species was described by Jean Cabanis in 1882. It is monotypic. The specific epithet mechowi honours Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander von Mechow, a Prussian explorer. The name occidentalis for a population with different songs is a nomen nudum.
The dusky long-tailed cuckoo is about 33 cm (13 in) long and weighs 50–61 g (1.8–2.2 oz). The head, nape and upperparts are dark brown, washed sooty-grey and with a purple-blue iridescence. The wings are dark brown, with buff and white spots. The underparts are white, with blackish-brown bars, and the vent is buff. The tail is long and graduated. The eyes are dark brown, the beak is greenish-black and the feet are yellow. The male and female are alike. The juvenile bird has a blackish throat and rufous bars on its upperparts. The nestling's skin is black, and it has a yellow rump and pale feet.
This cuckoo has a discontinuous distribution and is found in Angola, most of Cameroon, the Central... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo in Kibale National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kibale National Park
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo
Cercococcyx olivinus
Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo
Cercococcyx montanus
Red-chested Cuckoo
Cuculus solitarius
African Emerald Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx cupreus
Klaas's Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx klaas
White-browed Coucal
Centropus superciliosus
Blue-headed Coucal
Centropus monachus
Blue Malkoha
Ceuthmochares aereus
Dideric Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx caprius
Black Cuckoo
Cuculus clamosus
Levaillant's Cuckoo
Clamator levaillantii
Senegal Coucal
Centropus senegalensis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Semuliki National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 2 | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 3 | Kibale National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 4 | Virunga National Park | 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 5 | Queen Elizabeth National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo in Kibale National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo sighting in Kibale National Park, based on 332 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo in Kibale National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo in Kibale National Park in our monthly data.