African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus

African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus

Male African Emerald Cuckoo, Kakum, Ghana, May 2011 - click for larger image

Ghana and Ethiopia

The African Emerald Cuckoo is distributed in Africa from Gambia and southern Senegal to Ethiopia, Central and East Africa to South Africa. It is a seasonal migrant in West Africa and South Africa. See the distribution map at Birdlife International.

Female African Emerald Cuckoo, Kakum, Ghana, May 2011 - click for larger image

It is found in lowland and gallery forest and woodland where it usually forages in the dense canopy for hairy caterpillars and butterflies.

It is a brood parasite and in Ghana hosts include bulbuls, flycatchers, sunbirds and weavers.

Male African Emerald Cuckoo, Harenna Forest, Ethiopia, January 2016 - click for larger image

A common vocalisation is a clear and melodious "ptiu" sometimes rendered as ""hello, Ju-dy".

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