Burchell's coucal

Burchell's coucal
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Cuculiformes
Family: Cuculidae
Genus: Centropus
Species: C. burchellii
Binomial name
Centropus burchellii
Swainson, 1838

Burchell's coucal (Centropus burchellii), is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa. It inhabits areas with thick cover afforded by rank undergrowth and scrub, including in suitable coastal regions. Common names include Gewone Vleilourie in Afrikaans and umGugwane in Zulu.[1] It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the white-browed coucal.

The Burchell's coucal is named after the British naturalist William John Burchell. This common resident of southern Africa is usually seen as a solitary individual or seen in pairs. and prefers clambering through the riverine or coastal bush. It is more often heard than it is seen, when it does fly, the flight is ponderous and ends with a long glide to the next bush. This bird has a distinctive call, which resembles water pouring from a bottle, and various other calls such as the "dove" call and an alarm hiss. The birds are most vocal in the breeding season, and a couple may call in duet, or several birds may call in concert.[2]

Between September and February a large matted nest is normally made in a thorn tree. Usually four white eggs are laid,[1] and hatch out after 14 to 18 days. Both parents feed the nestlings for another three weeks.[3]

The Burchell's coucal is predatory, stalking through thick bush and eating insects (including Orthoptera), snails, amphibians (frogs and toads), reptiles (including lizards and chameleons) and birds up to the size of a laughing dove.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. 1996. pp. 337–338. ISBN 0620175834.
  2. ↑ Erritzøe, Johannes; Mann, Clive F.; Brammer, Frederik; Fuller, Richard A. (2012). Cuckoos of the World. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 174–176. ISBN 978-1-4081-4267-7.
  3. 1 2 "Centropus burchellii (Burchell's coucal)". Retrieved 13 December 2015.
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