Black Cuckoo
Cuculus clamosus
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)
- GenusCuculus (Typical Old World Cuckoos)
- SpeciesCuculus clamosus (Black Cuckoo)
About the Black Cuckoo
The black cuckoo (Cuculus clamosus) 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.
The black cuckoo is a medium-sized cuckoo. The sexes are similar, the plumage varying by subspecies; Cuculus clamosus clamosus has upper parts black glossed with green, slatey-grey wings and black tail tipped with white and sometimes with the outer feathers barred or spotted with white or buff; Cuculus clamosus gabonensis is mostly black with a red throat and black and white barring on the belly.
The subspecies Cuculus clamosus gabonensis is a resident in Central Africa, whereas the Southern African subspecies Cuculus clamosus clamosus is migratory, breeding in Southern Africa in September to December, then moving in March to Central, Eastern and West Africa. The range of this species extends from Liberia to Ethiopia in the east and Angola and South Africa. It is a woodland bird but avoids the interior of dense forests... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Black Cuckoo in Nyungwe National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Nyungwe National Park
Common Cuckoo
Cuculus canorus
Red-chested Cuckoo
Cuculus solitarius
Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo
Cercococcyx montanus
Blue Malkoha
Ceuthmochares aereus
Blue-headed Coucal
Centropus monachus
African Emerald Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx cupreus
Klaas's Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx klaas
White-browed Coucal
Centropus superciliosus
Levaillant's Cuckoo
Clamator levaillantii
Dideric Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx caprius
Black Coucal
Centropus grillii
Jacobin Cuckoo
Clamator jacobinus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Black Cuckoo in Nyungwe National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black Cuckoo sighting in Nyungwe National Park, based on 26 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Black Cuckoo in Nyungwe National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Black Cuckoo in Nyungwe National Park in our monthly data.