Diderick Cuckoo

Afrikaans name: Diederikkie

Above - Male Diderick Cuckoo

Photo © Steven Herbert

Chrysococcyx caprius

Diderick Cuckoos may be found over most of South Africa during the summer months. Normally you hear their call which is characteristic and gives them their common name.

These are attractive birds. The female is similar in colour to the male but is browner on her back while the male is bright green. Immature birds are very heavily streaked on their underparts.

The favourite food of the Diderick Cuckoo is caterpillars but it does also eat other insects.

Diderick Cuckoos are normally seen in pairs or by themselves. They are found in a wide variety of habitats including parks, gardens, savanna, woodland and riverine forest.

The Diderick Cuckoo parasitises a number of different species including weavers and sparrows. The female cuckoo sneaks into the nest of the host and eats, or throws out, one of the eggs and replaces it with her own.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	352	Lampromorpha cuprea
2nd	352	Chrysococcyx caprius
3rd	352	Chrysococcyx caprius
4th	352	Chrysococcyx caprius
5th	386	Chrysococcyx caprius
6th	386	Chrysococcyx caprius
7th	125	Chrysococcyx caprius

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	352	Bronze Cuckoo
2nd	352	Diederik Cuckoo
3rd	352	Diederik Cuckoo
4th	352	Diederik Cuckoo
5th	386	Diederik Cuckoo
6th	386	Diederik Cuckoo
7th	125	Diederik Cuckoo

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	352	Diedrikkie
2nd	352	Diedrikkie
3rd	352	Diedrikkie
4th	352	Diedrikkie
5th	386	Diederikkie
6th	386	Diederikkie
7th	125	Diederikkie

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 112

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 45

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 49

The Doves, Parrots, Louries & Cuckoos of Southern Africa - Author: M.K. Rowan - Published: 1983 - Page: 353

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 35

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 167

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 143

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 230

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 238

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 337

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 332

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 243

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 251

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 185

Newmans Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 38

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 62

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 208

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 54

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 208

Know your Garden Birds - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 16

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 160

Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 79

Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 43

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 106

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 58

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 67

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 156

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 39

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 40

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 68

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 127

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 121

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 100

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 46

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 84

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 144

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 109

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 154

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 109

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