Burchell's Coucal

About

Burchell's Coucal is a large, terrestrial cuckoo species native to sub-Saharan Africa. Unlike many other cuckoos, it is not a brood parasite but builds its own nest and raises its young. Known for its distinctive 'water-bubbling' call, it is often heard more than seen, preferring dense vegetation.

Size & lifespan

Length

36-42 cm

Wingspan

50-60 cm

Weight

170-250 g

Lifespan

Approximately 5-8 years in the wild

Diet

Omnivore, primarily insectivorous

Physical characteristics

Plumage

Adults have a glossy black head, neck, and upper breast, often with a purplish-blue sheen. The back and wings are rufous-chestnut, with the flight feathers being darker, sometimes appearing blackish. The tail is long, broad, and black, often with a greenish gloss, and the undertail coverts are black. The lower breast and belly are creamy white to buff.

Beak shape

Robust, decurved culmen, black in color.

Eye color

Red to reddish-brown.

Leg color

Dark grey to black.

Distinguishing features

Large size, glossy black head and breast contrasting with rufous wings, long black tail, and red eyes. Its terrestrial habits and distinctive call are also key identifiers.

Juvenile appearance

Juveniles are duller overall, with a sooty-brown head and breast, often streaked with buff. The rufous wings are duller and may have faint barring. The tail is shorter and less glossy. The eyes are typically brown, gradually changing to red with maturity.

Seasonal changes

No significant seasonal plumage changes. The glossy black can appear duller when worn.

Sexual dimorphism

Females are generally slightly larger than males, but plumage is identical.

How to identify

1. 1

   Plumage

   Look for the striking contrast between the glossy black head and upper breast and the rufous-chestnut back and wings. The long, broad black tail is also distinctive.

2. 2

   Eye Color

   Adults have bright red eyes, which are a key field mark.

3. 3

   Size and Shape

   It's a large, heavy-bodied bird with a long tail, often appearing somewhat ungainly.

4. 4

   Behavior

   Observe its terrestrial habits; it prefers to walk and clamber through dense vegetation rather than fly. Its flight is typically low and labored.

5. 5

   Vocalization

   Listen for its characteristic 'water-bubbling' call, which is often the first indication of its presence, especially in dense cover.

Habitat & range

Biomes

Savanna, grasslands, woodlands, thickets, wetlands.

Geographic range

Sub-Saharan Africa, from southern Somalia and Kenya south through Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, and South Africa.

Elevation range

Sea level up to approximately 2,000 meters.

Preferred environments

Dense, tangled vegetation, reedbeds, rank grass, riverine thickets, and the edges of cultivation. They favor areas with good cover for foraging and nesting, often near water sources.

Behavior

Activity time

Diurnal, most active during the early morning and late afternoon.

Feeding habits

Primarily forages on the ground or in low vegetation, walking stealthily. Diet consists mainly of large insects (grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars), snails, small reptiles (lizards, snakes), amphibians (frogs), small birds, and their eggs/nestlings. Occasionally takes small mammals. It will also consume fruit and seeds.

Social behavior

Generally solitary or found in pairs, especially during the breeding season. They are quite secretive and often remain hidden in dense cover.

Flight pattern

Weak, heavy, and rather clumsy flight, typically low over the ground for short distances. It prefers to run and clamber through dense vegetation rather than fly.

Migration pattern

Resident throughout its range, though some local movements may occur in response to rainfall and food availability.

Territoriality

Territorial, especially during the breeding season. Pairs will defend their nesting area, often using their distinctive calls to announce their presence.

Breeding & reproduction

Breeding season

Typically coincides with the rainy season, varying geographically. In southern Africa, generally from September to March.

Nesting habits

Builds a large, untidy, cup-shaped nest with a domed roof and a side entrance, usually placed low down in dense grass, reeds, or thorny bushes. Constructed from grass, leaves, and twigs, often lined with fresh green leaves.

Clutch size

2-5 eggs.

Egg description

2-5 (usually 3-4) eggs, dull white, sometimes with a chalky texture. Average size approximately 33 x 26 mm.

Incubation period

Approximately 14-16 days, primarily by the female.

Fledging period

Chicks fledge after about 17-20 days, but remain dependent on parents for some time thereafter.

Parental care

Both parents participate in nest building, incubation, and feeding of the young. Unlike parasitic cuckoos, they raise their own offspring.

Where to find

Field tips

1. Listen for the call. The distinctive bubbling call is the most reliable way to locate a Burchell's Coucal. Once heard, try to pinpoint the direction.
2. Be patient and quiet. These birds are shy and secretive. Sit quietly near dense cover where you've heard a call, and it may eventually emerge or move closer.
3. Scan low vegetation. Focus your search on the lower levels of dense bushes, tall grass, and reedbeds, as they spend most of their time foraging there.
4. Look for movement. Even if you can't see the bird clearly, rustling in dense foliage might indicate its presence.

Similar species

Quick facts

Family:

Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

Brood Parasitism:

Non-parasitic (builds own nest)

Primary Habitat:

Dense vegetation, thickets, reedbeds

Diet:

Large insects, small vertebrates

Distinguishing Call:

Bubbling 'water-pump' sound

Fun facts

• Despite being a cuckoo, Burchell's Coucal is one of the few species in its family that does not lay its eggs in other birds' nests. It builds its own nest and raises its young, a behavior known as 'non-parasitic'.
• Its distinctive bubbling call is often associated with rain, leading to local names like 'rain bird' or 'water-pump bird' in some regions.
• The long, broad tail is often held loosely and can appear somewhat disheveled, especially when the bird is moving through dense undergrowth.
• Burchell's Coucal has strong legs and feet, adapted for its largely terrestrial lifestyle, allowing it to clamber through thick vegetation with ease.

Scientific classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Aves

Order

Cuculiformes

Family

Cuculidae

Genus

Centropus

Species

Centropus burchellii

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