About Centropus senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766)
Centropus senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766), commonly called the Senegal coucal, is a medium-sized bird that measures 39 cm (15 in) long.
Its crown, nape, upper body, bill, legs, and long tail are black. It has red eyes, chestnut wings, and creamy white underparts, with blackish barring on its flanks. Male and female Senegal coucals look similar. Juveniles are browner, have heavier barring on their upper parts, and have underparts that range from buff to cinnamon with barring and streaking.
This species is widespread across much of central and southern Africa, located south of the Sahara Desert. Its range stretches from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia and Kenya in the east, and reaches as far south as Angola and Congo. There is a separate, isolated population in southern Africa centered on Zambia, Zimbabwe, and northern Botswana. The Senegal coucal inhabits grassy habitats that include trees, such as bushy areas and savannah.
In terms of behavior and ecology, the Senegal coucal feeds on a wide variety of insects, caterpillars, and small vertebrates, and it occasionally consumes other types of food. It nests above ground in low vegetation. It builds a large nest out of stalks and leaves, and a typical clutch contains two to four eggs.
