Meet the tiny avian creature adorned with gleaming metallic emerald green spurs cascading down from its head to lower throat in a shimmering display of hues
The Klaas’s Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx klaas) is a species of bird known for its distinctive features and interesting behaviors. Measuring approximately 18 cm in height and weighing around 26 grams, this small cuckoo showcases a remarkable blend of colors in its appearance. The head and bill are colored in vibrant green, while the throat is white. Its legs and back also sport a striking shade of green.
One notable characteristic of the Klaas’s Cuckoo is its sexual dimorphism, meaning that males and females display different physical traits. The males exhibit a glossy green body with few markings, complemented by plain white underparts. Their eyes are brown, adding to their captivating allure. In contrast, females possess a bronze-brown body, greenish wing coverts, and faintly barred white underparts. These distinguishing features contribute to the beauty and diversity of this species.
Found across sub-Saharan Africa, the Klaas’s Cuckoo is relatively common in various habitats, with the exception of arid deserts. It predominantly inhabits open broad-leaved woodlands, particularly miombo (Brachystegia) and mopane (Colophospermum mopane) woodland. However, it can also be found in dense acacia thickets, forest edges, gardens, and even in the presence of non-native tree stands around farms.
As a mainly insectivorous bird, the Klaas’s Cuckoo specializes in feeding on butterflies and caterpillars. It skillfully forages within the foliage of trees and bushes, searching for its preferred prey. While insects make up the majority of its diet, it occasionally consumes seeds and fruit buds as well. Its feeding behavior includes plucking insects from leaves and occasionally catching flying insects on the wing.
Remarkably, the Klaas’s Cuckoo is a brood parasite, meaning it lays its eggs in the nests of other bird species. The host bird then incubates the cuckoo’s egg, mistakenly believing it to be its own, and subsequently cares for the cuckoo chick. This egg-laying behavior occurs year-round, with a peak from October to January when the female lays one egg per nest, totaling around 24 eggs per breeding season. Shortly after hatching, the young cuckoo typically evicts any host bird chicks present in the nest and remains there for approximately 19-21 days.
Fortunately, the Klaas’s Cuckoo is not currently threatened and its distribution range has even expanded in recent times. These captivating birds contribute to the rich biodiversity of sub-Saharan Africa, and their unique characteristics make them a delight to observe and study.
If you’re interested, you can watch and listen to the Klaas’s Cuckoo in the video provided below. Enjoy the fascinating sights and sounds of this remarkable species!
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