Diederik Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx caprius
A: Diederikkie
Ss: Ntetekeng ya leihlofubedu
Z: unonengekhanda

BIRD FAMILY
Cuckoos

SIZE
18.5cm (S)

HABITAT
Usually occurs singly in a variety of wooded habitats, including reed beds and suburbia. Parasitises weavers, bishops and sparrows, and often seen while being chased off noisily by weavers.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION
Common summer resident. Both sexes differ from male of Klaas’s Cuckoo in having white marks before and behind the eyes, a white central stripe over the crown and multiple white marks on the wings; also red eyes and a black bill. Female is more coppery on the upper parts. Immature has coral-red bill, blue eyes and spotted underparts; immature female mostly coppery above. Male calls a plaintive ‘dee-dee-dee-deederik’ from a tree top or in flight; female calls ‘deea-deea-DEEA’.