About the Cuckoo-finch
The cuckoo-finch, also known as the parasitic weaver or cuckoo weaver, is a small passerine bird now placed in the family Viduidae with the indigobirds and whydahs. It occurs in grassland in Africa south of the Sahara. The male is mainly yellow and green while the female is buff with dark streaks. They lay their eggs in the nests of other birds.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The cuckoo-finch is a small finch-like bird, about 11–13 cm long. It has a short tail, large legs and feet, and a large, deep, conical bill. The adult male has a black bill and a yellow head and underparts. The upperparts are olive-green with black streaks. The yellow areas become increasingly bright prior to the breeding season as the feathers become worn. The adult female is buff with heavy black streaking above and light streaks on the flanks; its face is largely plain buff and the throat is buff-white. It has various chattering calls. Displaying males have a nasal song.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Congo - Brazzaville.
When to see it
Peak activity in January · a summer visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Straw-tailed WhydahVidua fischeriThe straw-tailed whydah is a species of bird in the family Viduidae.
Purple IndigobirdVidua purpurascensThe purple indigobird is a species of bird in the family Viduidae.
Steel-blue WhydahVidua hypocherinaThe steel-blue whydah is a species of bird in the family Viduidae.
Learn the Cuckoo-finch for real
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