What is a colonial black cuckoo?

Known by its scientific name Cuculus clamosus, the black cuckoo is a bird of the Cuculidae family native to sub-Saharan Africa. Common and widespread, the species is usually found perched atop evergreen and Acacia tree canopies and woodlands surrounding civilizations. The bird is known for its monotonous, repetitive call.

The medium-sized cuckoo may be entirely or nearly all black, with a white buff on the chest. The bird feeds mostly on beetles, caterpillars, termites, grasshoppers and other insects. The black cuckoo also feeds on the eggs and hatchlings of other birds and is notorious for laying its eggs in other birds' nests.