In the breeding season, birds call from prominent perches and chase each other with slow wing-beats and pigeon like clapping flight. Courtship feeding has been observed in Africa. The species is a brood parasite and in India the host is mainly species of babblers in the genus "Turdoides". The colour of the eggs matches those of the host, typically turquoise blue. The eggs are slightly larger than those of the common babbler ("T. caudatus") or the jungle babbler ("T. striata"). Other hosts include the red-vented bulbul, and the eggs laid are then mostly white. Eggs are laid hurriedly in the morning into the nest of the host often dropped from above while the bird perches on the rim of the nest and over the host eggs often resulting in the cracking of one or more host eggs. In Africa, the males distract the host while the female lays the egg. Multiple eggs may be laid in the nest of a host and two young cuckoos were found to fledge successfully in several occasions. In Africa, the hosts include "Pycnonotus barbatus", "P. capensis", "Turdoides fulvus", "Turdoides rubiginosus", "Lanius collaris", "Andropadus importunus", "Terpsiphone viridis", "Dicrurus adsimilis" and a few other species. Babblers in the genus "Turdoides" are communal breeders and cuckoo chick are raised by several members of the group. A pied cuckoo chick was observed to be fed by four jungle babblers.