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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
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in November · a winter visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Indian CuckooCuculus micropterusThis is a medium-sized cuckoo with both sexes alike.
Black CuckooCuculus clamosusThe black cuckoo is a medium-sized cuckoo.
Oriental CuckooCuculus optatusIt is 30–32 centimetres long with a wingspan of 51–57 centimetres and a weight of 73–156 grams.
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.
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