Kloof Conservancy
MOST residents of the Highway area will be very familiar with the call of the Red-chested Cuckoo, given its incessant and loud calling at all times of the day and night. Although its call, Piet-my-vrou is well known, not many will have actually had a good look at this bird as it is very elusive and camouflages well in the canopy of tall trees. It seldom calls from an exposed branch and this makes it more difficult to spot.
Description
It is about the size of a dove and is best described as medium in size as it is between 28cm to 30cm tall. It is a pretty looking bird that is mostly dark grey on the back with a whitish lower breast that has black barring. The throat/upperchest has a distinctive rufous colouring that appears as a band across the chest. The tail is mainly black with white-tipped feathers.
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Distribution
It can be found in most of Africa, south of the Sahara, with the exception of the arid regions. In South Africa it is found mainly in the high rainfall eastern regions but also occurs on the wetter parts of the Highveld, including Gauteng. They are breeding migrants, therefore they come to our area to breed in summer and then move north in winter. They usually arrive in October and leave by the end of April. It is not known precisely where they migrate to.
Habitat
The Red-chested Cuckoo enjoys well-wooded areas such as forests and closed woodlands. It has adapted well to human habitation and will be heard, if not seen, in well-wooded gardens and parks. It is mostly a solitary bird and very seldom seen in the company of others.
Feeding
It mainly feeds on invertebrates, but will opportunistically take small frogs and even lizards. If you are lucky to spot it, it’s most probably because it is busy feeding on caterpillars on a branch. It will hold the caterpillar in its beak for some time and will often beat the caterpillar against the branch. It will also help itself to the eggs of birds.
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Breeding
Like all Cuckoos, this is a cheeky species that lays its eggs in other birds’ nests and then allows the host family to raise its young. During October to February, the females can lay up to 20 eggs in one season in various nests. Its preferred host nests are those of the thrushes, robin-chats and wagtails.
Threats
The global population of the Red-chested Cuckoo appears to be quite healthy and it is not considered to be under any serious threat. Deforestation is a potential problem but its flexibility and adaptation to urban gardens has helped to maintain its numbers.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
