Cuckoo-finch

The cuckoo-finch, also known as the parasitic weaver or cuckoo weaver, is a small bird native to sub-Saharan Africa. It belongs to the Viduidae family, which also includes indigobirds and whydahs. The males are predominantly yellow and green, while the females have a buff coloration with dark streaks. A distinctive trait of this bird is its habit of laying its eggs in the nests of other birds—a phenomenon known as brood parasitism.

First described in 1868 by German ornithologist Jean Cabanis, the cuckoo-finch was initially classified under the genus Crithagra. It was later reassigned to its own genus, Anomalospiza. Its closest relatives are the indigobirds and whydahs from the genus Vidua, and together, they comprise the Viduidae family.

The cuckoo-finch is a small bird, measuring between 11 to 13 cm in length. It has a short tail, robust legs and feet, and a conical bill. The male features a black bill, yellow head, and olive-green upper parts with black streaks. On the other hand, the female is buff-colored with black streaks and has a plain buff face. These birds inhabit open or lightly wooded grasslands, particularly near moist areas across sub-Saharan Africa.

In terms of feeding, the cuckoo-finch forages on the ground or perches on grasses or herbs, primarily consuming grass seeds. As an obligate brood parasite, it deposits its eggs in the nests of cisticolas and prinias. The eggs are typically white, pale blue, or pink with markings and measure approximately 17-17.3 mm in length. After an incubation period of about 18 days, the young birds fledge and continue to rely on their host parents for another 10-40 days.

BirdLife International has classified the cuckoo-finch as a species of least concern due to its stable population and extensive range.