Chirping with Kloof Conservancy-Burchell’s Coucal

IT’S the rainy season, so it’s appropriate to review the Burchell’s Coucal, referred to by many as ‘the rain bird’.

Description

The Burchell’s Coucal is quite a standout bird as it has striking colours and is quite large at a length of 36cm to 42cm. The strong contrast between its rich chestnut-brown back and wings, and the creamy white breast feathers, make it quite visible. Add to that a black head, long black tail, deep red eyes and quite a ferocious looking beak, it is certainly a bird you are unlikely to forget once spotted.

Males and females are very similar and difficult to tell apart. Females are usually larger, at an average weight of 180g.

There are a few other species of coucal in Southern Africa, but only the Burchell’s Coucal is found in our area, so you are unlikely to confuse it with any other species.

ALSO READ: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy- The Knysna Turaco

Distribution

It is found mainly in the eastern part of South Africa as well as the Limpopo and North West provinces. You are unlikely to find it in areas that receive annual rainfall of less than 600mm.

Habitat

It loves forest edges and areas of dense undergrowth along rivers where there are reedbeds, marshes and rank grasses. It is a very shy bird, so not easy to spot despite its loud call that can be heard from quite a distance. It is common to see them on the ground and rarely in flight. They are solitary birds, so its uncommon to see more than one at a time.

Feeding
The Burchell’s Coucal is a voracious eater and will tackle any species smaller than itself. It has a very wide diet from insects to small rodents, amphibians, reptiles and birds. It is also quite adept at raiding the nests of other birds and helping itself to eggs or nestlings. Foraging is done mostly in bushes or trees, but it will also swoop and snatch its prey on the ground.

Breeding
It is a monogamous species and interestingly the nest is built exclusively by the male, who also does most of the feeding of the chicks once they have hatched. Nests are messy, cup shaped and usually built above ground in dense bush thickets. Two to five chalky white eggs are laid, which take approximately 15 days to hatch.

Predators and threats
It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, but there are concerns that its numbers may be impacted negatively by the destruction of riverine forests for housing and commercial development, as well as farming activities that impact on their preferred habitat. The Burchall’s Coucal is preyed upon by raptors such as Black Sparrowhawks.

Local information
As already mentioned, this bird is more often heard than seen but nevertheless there are many areas in the Upper Highway where you are likely to find one as we have the correct habitat for it. Memorial Park and the Msinsi Grasslands in Kloof are good areas at this time of the year.

Interesting facts
Much folklore is linked to this species and the most popular one is that it announces the rain is coming. There is some truth to this as it has been noted that it bursts into song during periods of very high humidity, which usually occur before or after rains. Some people also link its call to rain because it is a very smooth melodious flute-like call, which has been described as ‘water burbling from a cool natural spring’.

Support:
To support the ongoing work of the Kloof Conservancy, visit its website at https://www.kloofconservancy.org.za.

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