### Identification The African Cuckoo-hawk is a master of avian mimicry. At first glance, its slate-grey upperparts, longish tail, and bold, rufous-and-white barred underparts cause many to mistake it for a large cuckoo or an *Accipiter* (sparrowhawk). However, the "tell" is the head: look for a small, dark, pointed crest on the nape and piercing, golden-yellow eyes. In flight, its wings are broader and more rounded than a cuckoo’s, showing distinctive chestnut underwing coverts that glow when caught in the light.
### Habitat & Range Widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa, this raptor avoids the densest rainforest interiors and the driest deserts. It thrives in the "ecotone"—the sunny edges where forest meets savanna—as well as riverine woodlands and even mature eucalyptus plantations. You’ll find them from coastal lowland forests up to montane woodlands at 3,000 meters.
### Behaviour A secretive "still-hunter," the Cuckoo-hawk spends much of its day perched motionless within the mid-canopy, hidden by foliage. You are most likely to spot one during its display flight, where it performs steep, undulating "rollercoaster" dives while calling a whistled *ti-uu, ti-uu*. Unlike the bold soaring of many hawks, it moves between trees with a low, flapping-and-gliding flight, staying close to the cover of the leaves.
### Diet This species is a specialist of the "snatch-and-grab." It feeds primarily on large insects—particularly green mantids and grasshoppers—but it is most famous for its love of chameleons and tree-dwelling lizards. It scans the branches with intense focus, then drops suddenly to pluck its prey directly from the leaves with its talons.
### Fascinating Fact The African Cuckoo-hawk is a "wolf in sheep’s clothing." It is believed that its striking resemblance to the harmless, insect-eating Common Cuckoo allows it to fly near small birds without triggering their "raptor" alarm response, giving it a tactical advantage when hunting or moving through territories.