Fauna Details
| Common Name | Klaas's Cuckoo (Meitjie Afr.) |
| Family | Cuculidae |
| Date Observed | 23-09-2022 |
| Category | Birds |
|---|---|
| Catalogue No. | Z2014RG |
| Breeding/ Spawning Time | Spring,Summer |
| When Observed | DAYTIME |
| Locations Observed | |
| Estuary | |
| Koppie | |
| Nature Reserve | |
| Small Holding | |
| Village | Few |
| Greater Rooiels | |
Chrysococcyx klaas
Information
Klaas's Cuckoo (Meitjie Afr.)
A bird with a history
Klaas’s cuckoo
The explorer and ornithologist Francois le Vaillant (below) travelled through the Cape in the 1780's. His ornithological discoveries are very well documented.
Le Vaillant named this cuckoo after his worthy Khoikhoi assistant Klaas (below). Klaas used to collect birds for him and was his guide.
The female Klaas's cuckoo lays her eggs in a host’s nest. Here in Rooiels she probably lays her eggs in the nest of a Cape Robin, Cape Batis, Apalis (bandkeelkleinjantjie) or Cape sunbird.
Why the name "Meitjie" in Afrikaans?
The Afrikaans name for Klaas's cuckoo is "Meitjie". This is an onomatopee for the Klaas's cuckoo call, sounding like “mei-tjie, mei-tjie”.
