Diderick Cuckoo

Afrikaans name: Diederikkie

Above - Male Diderick Cuckoo

Photo © Steven Herbert

Chrysococcyx caprius

Diderick Cuckoos may be found over most of South Africa during the summer months. Normally you hear their call which is characteristic and gives them their common name.

These are attractive birds. The female is similar in colour to the male but is browner on her back while the male is bright green. Immature birds are very heavily streaked on their underparts.

The favourite food of the Diderick Cuckoo is caterpillars but it does also eat other insects.

Diderick Cuckoos are normally seen in pairs or by themselves. They are found in a wide variety of habitats including parks, gardens, savanna, woodland and riverine forest.

The Diderick Cuckoo parasitises a number of different species including weavers and sparrows. The female cuckoo sneaks into the nest of the host and eats, or throws out, one of the eggs and replaces it with her own.

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References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 154

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 109

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 109

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 84

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 100

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 46

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Year Published: - Page: 121

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 127

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 40

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Year Published: 2005 - Page: 39

Everyone's Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 58

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 106

Geoff Lockwood's Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Year Published: - Page: 79

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 160

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 208

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 208

Newman's Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 38

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 143

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 243

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 251

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 337

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 332

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 230

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 238

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 35

The Doves, Parrots, Louries & Cuckoos of Southern Africa - Author: M.K. Rowan - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 353

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 112

List of South African Birds