### Identification The Klaas’s Cuckoo (*Chrysococcyx klaas*) is a shimmering, pint-sized jewel of the African bush, measuring a mere 16–18 cm. The male is breathtaking: a brilliant, metallic malachite-green above that contrasts sharply with a snow-white underbelly. Look for the diagnostic green patches on the sides of his breast and the distinct white spot behind the dark eye.
Distinguishing it from the similar Diederik Cuckoo is a classic birder’s challenge. Remember: the Diederik has a red eye and a bold white stripe *over* the eye, whereas Klaas’s lacks the stripe and has that subtle white post-ocular spot. Females are more demure, sporting bronzy-brown upperparts with fine greenish barring and buff-white underparts.
### Habitat & Range This adaptable species is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Unlike its cousin, the African Emerald Cuckoo, which retreats into deep primary forests, Klaas’s prefers more "edge" habitats. You’ll find it in broad-leaved woodlands, acacia savannas, and even lush suburban gardens. It thrives from sea level up to nearly 3,000 meters, provided there are enough trees for cover and host nests to exploit.
### Behaviour You will almost always hear a Klaas’s Cuckoo before you see it. Listen for its mournful, two-syllable whistle—*“Meitjie, meitjie”*—delivered from a high, exposed branch. It is a brood parasite, meaning it doesn't build its own nest. Instead, it stealthily monitors the nests of sunbirds, warblers, and flycatchers. While the male distracts the hosts with his conspicuous presence, the female slips in with surgical precision to replace one host egg with her own.
### Diet Klaas’s Cuckoo is a caterpillar specialist. It possesses a hardened stomach lining that allows it to safely digest "hairy" caterpillars, which are toxic or irritating to most other birds. It forages by gleaning insects from the canopy, occasionally hovering to snatch a larva from the underside of a leaf.
### Fascinating Fact The species holds a rare place in ornithological history: it is one of the few birds named after an indigenous person. The French naturalist François Le Vaillant named it in 1806 to honor his Khoikhoi servant and friend, Klaas, whose incredible tracking skills and local knowledge were instrumental to Le Vaillant’s expeditions.