Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx montanus Scientific name definitions

Shy and retiring, this species is most easily found by voice. While it looks very similar to other Long-tailed Cuckoos, it can be identified by the barring on the upperparts. Different from its congeners, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo is an intra-African migrant.

32–34 cm; 54 g. Adult dull olive-brown above, feathers with rufous edges, tail long , rectrices broad, tipped white or pale rufous; white below , barred blackish , often with pale buff wash; skin around eye yellow, iris brown, bill black, greenish at base, feet yellow. Juvenile (patulus) with cinnamon-rufous edges to dorsal feathers, streaked below, upper breast and throat blackish with scaly mottling, rectrices pointed. Races differ in size and colour tone: montanus smaller, dark above with greenish sheen; patulus larger, paler.

Closely related to Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo (Cercococcyx olivinus). Subspecies patulus considered by some to be rather poorly differentiated (1 Louette, M., and P. Herroelen (1994). A revised key for Cercococcyx cuckoos, taxonomic status of C. montanus patulus and its occurrence in Zaïre. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 114(3):144–149. Close ), although recent genetic, morphological and migratory evidence suggests that two species may well be involved, but no vocal differences have been documented (2 Engel, J. I., K. Byamana, C. Kahindo, J. M. Bates, and J. Fjeldså (2014). Genetic structure offers insights into the evolution of migration and the taxonomy of the Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx montanus species complex. Ibis 156(2):330–340. Close ).

Two subspecies currently recognized.

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EBIRD GROUP (MONOTYPIC)

Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo (Njobo's) Cercococcyx montanus montanus Scientific name definitions

• eBird map
• 1 photos
• 4 recordings

Distribution

Montane forests of east-central Africa from Rwenzori, Democratic Republic of the Congo, to Lake Tanganyika.

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EBIRD GROUP (MONOTYPIC)

Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo (Eastern) Cercococcyx montanus patulus Scientific name definitions

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• 0 photos
• 14 recordings

Distribution

Kenya to E and S Tanzania, Malawi, E Zimbabwe and Mozambique; locally in E Zambia (Mutulanganga and Luangwa Valley) and around middle R Zambezi in N Zimbabwe (Mana Pools) (3 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium Close ), and recorded once in S DRCongo (Gandalijka).

See Subspecies.

Forest , montane in most areas, in E Africa also riparian and lowland, coastal thickets and forest-savanna mosaic. To 2800 m.

Vocal Development

No information. There are no observations of fledglings being fed by host parents, and thus begging call has not been described. At the start of the next breeding cycle, all birds sing the stereotypic adult song (without having been in close contact with their biological parents).

Vocal Array

Like many other Old World cuckoo species, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo has 2 main vocalizations: a short phrase repeated incessantly (Song) and a long note series typically only uttered once (Long call). Both vocalizations are very stereotypical.

Song. A short phrase of 3 or 4 (occasionally 5) notes, in which the second note is slightly higher-pitched than the first, and subsequent notes again drop in pitch: whi-whee-whi-whu...whi-whee-whi-whu... Such phrase is repeated many times with very short pauses, the resulting pace typically 4‒7 phrases/10s. 3-note phrases are reminiscent of Red-chested Cuckoo (Cuculus solitarius) (but clearly higher-pitched).

Long call. A long series of drawn-out disyllabic notes toowoo...toowoo...toowoo.. Notes have a duration of 0.6‒0.8s, are rather flat-pitched between 1 and 2kHz, and are given at a pace of 1.0‒1.5notes/s. The series usually starts rather faint and gradually swells in amplitude becoming emphatic, going on for 20s or more. The disyllabic notes eventually break down into two separate notes teee-whuu..teee-whuu.. The series stops abruptly, and may be followed by the Song or a few short excitement notes. Very similar to Long call of Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo (Cercococcyx olivinus), but the latter's call does not lead to separate double notes.

Other. A bubbling call has also been described as a probable female vocalization (4 Maclean, G. L. (1993). Roberts’ Birds of Southern Africa. Sixth edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund and New Holland, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ), but this requires confirmation.

Geographic Variation

A detailed comparison of both subspecies could not find any vocal differences (2 Engel, J. I., K. Byamana, C. Kahindo, J. M. Bates, and J. Fjeldså (2014). Genetic structure offers insights into the evolution of migration and the taxonomy of the Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx montanus species complex. Ibis 156(2):330–340. Close ). Today's more extensive set of on-line recordings however clearly indicates there is a difference in pitch of the Song, the highest notes of patulus reaching rarely 3kHz, while nominate always exceeds 3kHz (rarely reaching 4kHz) (PFB). While this vocal difference is less striking than in the case of the 2 vocal groups of Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo (Cercococcyx mechowi), it nevertheless adds further support to the idea that two species may be involved (based on genetic data and migratory behavior) (2 Engel, J. I., K. Byamana, C. Kahindo, J. M. Bates, and J. Fjeldså (2014). Genetic structure offers insights into the evolution of migration and the taxonomy of the Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx montanus species complex. Ibis 156(2):330–340. Close ).

Phenology

Migratory behavior is not present year-round in most of its range, and vocal activity is thus seasonal (possibly also influenced by breeding cycle of the host species). In southeastern Zambia, song is noted from end of October to end of February (3 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium Close ), in southern Africa vocal in austral summer (4 Maclean, G. L. (1993). Roberts’ Birds of Southern Africa. Sixth edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund and New Holland, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ). In Tanzania, there are sound recordings form July to December. In Uganda, where the nominate is resident, sound recordings are available from February to August.

Daily Pattern of Vocalizing

Mainly vocal from pre-dawn to early morning and in late afternoon. Also sings at night (5 Fry, C. H., S. Keith, and E. K. Urban, Editors (1988). The Birds of Africa. Volume 3. Parrots to Woodpeckers. Academic Press, London, UK. Close ,6 Dowsett, R. J., D. R. Aspinwall, and F. Dowsett-Lemaire (2008). The Birds of Zambia. Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium. Close ).

Places of Vocalizing

Sings from a perch high in the canopy, and is notoriously difficult to see (unless lured in with playback).

Sex Differences

Little information. One could speculate that the Long call is a female vocalization (analogous to Cuculus cuckoos), but Song and Long call can be uttered by the same individual.

Social Context and Presumed Functions of Vocalizations

Little information. Song is far carrying and uttered for long periods. It likely plays a role in mate attraction and possibly also has a territorial function. Birds readily approach a playback source. Long call is often uttered in combination with Song.

None documented.