Cuculus solitarius Red-chested Cuckoo Piet-my-vrou
Jembisa Private Nature Reserve, Nov 2021
A breeding summer visitor, present between Oct and Mar. Common and widespread, more so in the Waterberg than in the surrounding thorn savanna (64% in, 36% out; recorded in 78% of the Waterberg pentads); it is the most widely recorded cuckoo in the Waterberg, its presence mostly given away by its shrill, far-carrying “piet-my-vrou' call; it becomes silent after Jan and much less detectable then. Breeds in summer parasitizing robin-chats, scrub robins and wagtails in the area.
A breeding summer visitor, present between Oct and Mar. Common and widespread, more so in the Waterberg than in the surrounding thorn savanna (64% in, 36% out; recorded in 78% of the Waterberg pentads); it is the most widely recorded cuckoo in the Waterberg, its presence mostly given away by its shrill, far-carrying “piet-my-vrou' call; it becomes silent after Jan and much less detectable then. Breeds in summer parasitizing robin-chats, scrub robins and wagtails in the area.
Modimolle, Dec 2019
Modimolle, Nov 2017
Vaalwater
The large egg at the top is the Red-chested Cuckoo egg in the nest of a White-browed Scrub-Robin.
The large egg at the top is the Red-chested Cuckoo egg in the nest of a White-browed Scrub-Robin.