Photo: Alan Manson / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Cuckoo
Cuculus clamosus
Black Cuckoo (Cuculus clamosus) — Cuckoos & Turacos of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black Cuckoo (Cuculus clamosus) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 78.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Cuculiformes
- Family Cuculidae Cuckoos
- Genus Cuculus
- Species clamosus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 78.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black Cuckoo is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Black Cuckoo (Cuculus clamosus) is a member of the Cuculidae family, within the order Cuculiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 78.8 g, with a wing length of about 18.1 cm and a tail of around 15.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 11.9 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Cuckoo?
The Black Cuckoo is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 78.8 g.
Where does the Black Cuckoo live?
The Black Cuckoo is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black Cuckoo belong to?
The Black Cuckoo (Cuculus clamosus) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Black Cuckoo eat?
The Black Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black Cuckoo migrate?
The Black Cuckoo is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Black Cuckoo endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black Cuckoo make?
1 real field recording of the Black Cuckoo can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black Cuckoo's range?
The Black Cuckoo has a mapped global range of about 11.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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