Cuckoos of South Africa

18 cuckoos have been recorded in South Africa on eBird, the global citizen-science database run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and carry a full profile in the Birbs encyclopedia. Every bird below is a member of this group — the family Cuculidae. Start with the well-known species, browse the complete list, then check which are being reported near you right now.

See birds reported near you → Get rare-bird alerts

Cuckoos of South Africa to know first

• African CuckooCuculus gularis
• African Emerald CuckooChrysococcyx cupreus
• Black CoucalCentropus grillii
• Black CuckooCuculus clamosus
• Burchell’s CoucalCentropus burchellii
• Common CuckooCuculus canorus
• Diederik CuckooChrysococcyx caprius
• Great Spotted CuckooClamator glandarius
• Green MalkohaCeuthmochares australis
• Jacobin CuckooClamator jacobinus
• Klaas’s CuckooChrysococcyx klaas
• Lesser CuckooCuculus poliocephalus
• Levaillant’s CuckooClamator levaillantii
• Madagascar CuckooCuculus rochii
• Red-chested CuckooCuculus solitarius
• Senegal CoucalCentropus senegalensis
• Thick-billed CuckooPachycoccyx audeberti

The full list — 18 cuckoos of South Africa in our library

• African Cuckoo
• African Emerald Cuckoo
• Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo
• Black Coucal
• Black Cuckoo
• Burchell’s Coucal
• Common Cuckoo
• Diederik Cuckoo
• Great Spotted Cuckoo
• Green Malkoha
• Jacobin Cuckoo
• Klaas’s Cuckoo
• Lesser Cuckoo
• Levaillant’s Cuckoo
• Madagascar Cuckoo
• Red-chested Cuckoo
• Senegal Coucal
• Thick-billed Cuckoo

Keep exploring

• Birds of South Africa
• Hawks, Eagles & Kites of South Africa (51 species)
• Old World Flycatchers & Chats of South Africa (42 species)
• Sandpipers & Allies of South Africa (37 species)
• Petrels & Shearwaters of South Africa (35 species)
• Ducks, Geese & Swans of South Africa (33 species)
• Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of South Africa (33 species)
• Cisticolas & Allies of South Africa (32 species)
• Larks of South Africa (27 species)
• Weavers of South Africa (25 species)
• Wagtails & Pipits of South Africa (24 species)
• Waxbills & Munias of South Africa (23 species)
• Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of South Africa (21 species)
• Plovers of South Africa (20 species)
• Swallows & Martins of South Africa (19 species)

Cuckoos in other regions

• Cuckoos of Indonesia (57 species)
• Cuckoos of Thailand (33 species)
• Cuckoos of Malaysia (30 species)
• Cuckoos of the Philippines (25 species)
• Cuckoos of India (24 species)
• Cuckoos of Tanzania (23 species)
• Cuckoos of Colombia (20 species)
• Cuckoos of Kenya (20 species)
• Cuckoos of Brazil (19 species)
• Cuckoos of Peru (18 species)

Species and counts come from the eBird network; "recorded" means reported by birders to eBird. Family grouping follows the IOC World Bird List. Tap any bird for its full profile.