Black Cuckoo

Black Cuckoo
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Cuculiformes
Family:	Cuculidae
Genus:	Cuculus
Species:	C. clamosus
Binomial name
Cuculus clamosus Latham, 1801

The Black Cuckoo (Cuculus clamosus) is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family. The species is distributed widely across sub-Saharan Africa. The subspecies Cuculus clamosus gabonensis is a resident in Central Africa, whereas the Southern African subspecies Cuculus clamosus clamosus is migratory, breeding in Southern Africa in September to December, then moving in March to Central, Eastern and West Africa.

The Black Cuckoo is a medium sized cuckoo. The plumage varies by subspecies, Cuculus clamosus clamosus is either almost entirely black with a white buff on the chest or entirely black; Cuculus clamosus gabonensis is mostly black with a red throat and black and white barring on the belly.

The Black Cuckoo is a brood parasite. Its main hosts are bushshrikes, particularly the Tropical Boubou and Crimson-breasted Shrike.

References

• "Cuculus clamosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2009. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/142249/0. Retrieved 15 Sep 2010.