Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Least ConcernUncommonInvertebratesForestMedium · 77 g

About the Red-chested Cuckoo

The red-chested cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is a medium-sized bird found in Africa, south of the Sahara. In Afrikaans, it is known as "Piet-my-vrou", after its call.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The red-chested cuckoo is a medium-size cuckoo about 31 cm (12.2 in) in length. The male has slate-grey upper parts, pale grey throat and sides of head and dark grey tail tipped with white. The breast is rufous or cinnamon, often with barring, and the belly is creamy-white or pale buff. The female is similar but the colour of the breast is duller and with variable amounts of barring.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Red-chested Cuckoo sounds like

Recording: paulo kivuyo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Regular range

When to see it

Peak activity in November · a winter visitor species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Side by side: Common Cuckoo vs Red-chested Cuckoo

Learn the Red-chested Cuckoo for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

Play BeakBrain

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