Centropus burchellii (near-endemic)

This near-endemic bird is the most common coucal in South Africa and can be distinguished from the very similar senegal coucal by its barred rump and base to the tail.

I can remember the “rain bird” from when I was a youngster visiting the lowveld with my parents. Its bubbling call is an iconic sound of the african bush. We first recorded this species in December 2009 while staying near Pennington on the south coast of KwaZulu Natal.