Meet Diederik Cuckoo, One Of The Most Beautiful Bird In The World

Diederik cuckoo gets its name from and onomatopoeic rendition of its persistent and loud deed-deed-deed-deed-er-ick,in a sweet, but loud voice, call of the territorial male, which you hear often in Johannesburg during the summer. There is a pair that regularly visit our garden and the male is often heard calling in early morning from a large tree in the front yard. The specific name caprius is thought to be a misprint for either cuprea (coppery) or capensis (of Cape of Good Hope), but I like to think it is cuprea, because the birds – especially females and juveniles – often show coppery colours.