The African Cuckoo (Afrikaanse Koekoek) is an intra-African migrant. In the Transvaal, and presumably throughout its range, the numbers vary from year to year. In South Africa, south of 26°S, it may be a non-breeding visitor, except for the stronghold in the far east and Swaziland, where it does breed. The African Cuckoo has a tropical distribution which extends south of the tropics in the eastern Transvaal, Mozambique, and northern KwaZulu-Natal. It is also known as the African grey cuckoo. It belongs to the family Cuculidae.
Non-breeding birds from the northern savanna populations may also reach the region. The African Cuckoo was previously considered a race of the European Cuckoo C. canorus by some authorities. The distribution map shows that the African Cuckoo is virtually confined to north of 26°S (Zones 1, 2, 5, and 6).
Except in the northeastern parts of Zone 7, records of the African Cuckoo further south should be treated with caution because of the potential for confusion with the European Cuckoo. As it breeds in the region, the African Cuckoo is vocal and can thus unequivocally be identified on call, while the European Cuckoo is silent. It is not possible to plot only those records that were identified on the call. The plotted record in the southwestern Cape Province is one of several records in the region, including some of the calling birds.
Habitat:
A variety of woodlands, both broadleaved and Acacia, are preferred. Mopane is the most favored habitat, followed in order by Miombo, Okavang, and Arid Woodland vegetation types. In Swaziland, it occurs in wattle stands. Records of African Cuckoos in other than woodland habitats may be based on misidentifications or on nonbreeding visitors and vagrants.
Movements:
It is a summer migrant that generally occurs in the region September-April. Birds start calling. presumably soon after they arrive, in Zimbabwe in late August or early September, and in late September in the Transvaal. It arrives in Botswana by late October, while in Namibia, it may only start calling in November. This indicates that the timing of arrival may depend upon the local availability of food (predominantly caterpillars) or may be related to the timing of breeding of host species.
It leaves March-April. Overwintering is occasionally recorded. The models confirm these patterns of timing. Arrival dates become progressively later southwards, while departure dates are synchronized throughout the region. The period of residency is shorter further south, where birds are present for 5 months compared with 6 months in Zone 5.
Breeding:
The African Cuckoo is a brood parasite whose only host in southern Africa is the Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis). The breeding season is September-December, with a peak in October. This matches that of the host, where the ranges overlap, but south of the African Cuckoo’s range, peak breeding of the Fork-tailed Drongo tends to be somewhat later.
Interspecific relationships:
The African Cuckoo’s distribution pattern is similar to, but not as extensive as, that of its host, the Fork-tailed drongo, which is more widespread further south and in more arid areas of the region. Historical distribution and conservation: There is no evidence for any change in distribution, except in western Swaziland, where occurrence in stands of alien wattles presumably indicates a range expansion. The African Cuckoo is not considered threatened in southern Africa.
