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.

References and further reading

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

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

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

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

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 144

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

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

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 121

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 68

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

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

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

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 58

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

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 67

Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 43

Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 79

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

Know your Garden Birds - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 16

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 54

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

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

Newmans Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 38

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 185

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 167

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 143

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

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 49

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 45

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

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds