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Dusky long-tailed cuckoo facts for kids

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Dusky long-tailed cuckoo
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Genus:
Cercococcyx
Species:
mechowi

The dusky long-tailed cuckoo (Cercococcyx mechowi) is a cool bird from the cuckoo family. You can find it living in the forests of Central Africa. Scientists say it's doing well and isn't in danger.

About the Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo's Name

This cuckoo was first described by a scientist named Jean Cabanis in 1882. It is a monotypic species. This means it's the only type of its kind in its group. The second part of its scientific name, mechowi, honors Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander von Mechow. He was a Prussian explorer.

What Does the Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Look Like?

This cuckoo is about 33 centimeters (13 inches) long. It weighs between 50 and 61 grams (about 1.8 to 2.2 ounces). Its head and upper body are dark brown. They have a cool purple-blue shine. Its wings are dark brown with buff and white spots.

Feathers and Features

The cuckoo's belly is white with dark brown stripes. Its tail is long and gets narrower at the end. Its eyes are dark brown. The beak is greenish-black, and its feet are yellow. Male and female cuckoos look the same. Young cuckoos have a black throat. Their upper parts have reddish-brown stripes. Baby cuckoos have black skin and yellow bottoms.

Where Does the Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Live?

This cuckoo lives in different parts of Africa. You can find it in countries like Angola, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic. It also lives in Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Preferred Homes in the Forest

It loves living in forests. It especially likes places with thick bushes and climbing plants called lianas. You might also see it in older forests that are growing back. It also lives in forests along rivers. Some cuckoos that look similar are now considered a different species. They are called the whistling long-tailed cuckoo. This is because their calls are different.

How Does the Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Behave?

The dusky long-tailed cuckoo often stays hidden. It can be found in the thick bushes or higher up in the middle of the trees. It eats many different things. Its diet includes caterpillars, ants, beetles, and spiders. It also eats snails and seeds. Sometimes, it joins groups of different bird species looking for food together.

Calls and Family Life

Pairs of cuckoos often call to each other from the tops of trees. Their calls can sound like "hu hee wheeu." They also make a series of notes that get faster, then slow down and go lower. This cuckoo is a brood parasite. This means it lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. The other birds then raise the cuckoo's chicks. Birds like the blue-headed crested flycatcher and brown illadopsis have been seen raising cuckoo chicks. The forest robin might also be a host. This cuckoo probably breeds during the wet season.

Is the Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo in Danger?

This cuckoo does not seem to have many big threats. Its population appears to be steady. Because of this, scientists have listed it as a least-concern species. This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.

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