
Red-chested Cuckoo
The red-chested cuckoo (Cuculus solitarius) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae.
Species insights
Most records Oct to Jan
When Red-chested Cuckoo sightings peak, from open records. Outside these months it is seen less often, not never.
Curve from 684 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
KwaZulu-Natal and beyond
Provinces where Red-chested Cuckoo is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
685 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Red-chested Cuckoo
Stays that give back
Across the Eastern Cape
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Nama-Karoo biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa and 1 other
From R 1,760 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Nama-Karoo biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,200 a night
Red-chested Cuckoo recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Red-chested Cuckoo recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Red-chested Cuckoo recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Red-chested Cuckoo recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Red-chested Cuckoo recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Fynbos biome · Spekboom
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 2,460 a night
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Giraffe · Impala
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 485 a night
Albany Thicket biome · Black backed jackal · Bushbuck
Gives back to Wilderness Foundation Africa
From R 2,600 a night
Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 1,050 a night
From R 12,950 a night
Albany Thicket biome · Black wildebeest · Blesbok
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 11,592 a night
Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 3,100 a night
Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Spekboom
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 4,000 a night
Albany Thicket biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 2,000 a night
Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 600 a night
Forest biome · Arum lily · Krantz aloe
From R 457 a night
Grassland biome · Black wildebeest · Springbok
From R 449 a night
Albany Thicket biome · Spekboom
From R 2,093 a night
Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
Gives back to Wilderness Foundation Africa
Price on request
Albany Thicket biome · Black backed jackal · Spotted hyena
From R 1,490 a night
Albany Thicket biome · Blesbok · Springbok
From R 345 a night
Nama-Karoo biome · Spekboom
Gives back to Boundless
Price on request
Forests, lagoons, and Knysna's sheltered bay
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Red-chested Cuckoo
Hosts have recorded the Red-chested Cuckoo at stays in or beside Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- The first hours after sunrise, and late afternoon. Birds call and feed most in the cool.
- Midday. Quieter, especially in summer heat.
Ways to look
Guided drives from a lodge
A guide who knows where to look, with off-road and night drives in the private reserves.
Where hosts record it
Species
Cuculus solitarius
Records
685
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Red-chested Cuckoo on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Red-chested Cuckoo in Eastern Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Red-chested Cuckoo at stays in or beside Kwandwe Private Game Reserve. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Red-chested Cuckoo in South Africa?
The Red-chested Cuckoo is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (27% of records), Western Cape (22% of records), Gauteng (16% of records), based on 685 iNaturalist observations. 7 places to stay on Spekboom in Eastern Cape have recorded the Red-chested Cuckoo on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Red-chested Cuckoo?
Sightings of the Red-chested Cuckoo peak from Oct to Jan, based on 684 iNaturalist records. You may still see it outside those months, sightings are just less frequent.
What is the Red-chested Cuckoo?
The red-chested cuckoo (Cuculus solitarius) is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is a medium-sized bird found in Africa south of the Sahara. In Afrikaans, it is known as "Piet-my-vrou", after its call.
























