Blue-headed Coucal

Centropus monachus

Other Names

    Coucal à nuque bleue   Mönchskuckuck   Cucal Monje   Munksporrgök     Cucal testablu

World: Africa - in the E from W Ethiopia and S Sudan down through Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to eastern Zaire. In the West occurs from the Gulf of Guinea through Senegambia to the Congo.

Kenya: Found closely associated with water, particularly papyrus swamps, in the W of the country. Also found associated with water in the Central Highlands.

The bird pictured above is the western race C. m. fischeri and is darker than the nominate race from the Central Highlands. A shy bird which, like the White-browed Coucal flies weakly and clumsily to cover if disturbed. It skulks in dense undergrowth and can be difficult to spot - although once you catch a brief glimpse it is a highly distinctive bird. It does, however, have a highly distinctive call and is often vocal at night.

As with other coucals this member of the cuculidae is non-parasitic, building an oval nest with a side entrance from sedges and grasses, lined with green leaves. This is somewhat untidy and is concealed in dense growth.

It is carnivorous with a wide diet including insects, rodents, birds, snails, amphibians, reptiles (including snakes) and eggs. Like other coucals it will also feed on carrion.