Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo vs African Cuckoo
Cacomantis castaneiventris compared with Cuculus gularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo | African Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cacomantis castaneiventris | Cuculus gularis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 22.1 cm (8.7 in) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 31.5 g (1.11 oz) | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying resonant call with chestnut-breasted quality; deep hollow notes carrying through Pacific forest.
African Cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying raucous call; harsh penetrating notes given from tall African forest canopy. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Conservation Status
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo
African Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo: rich chestnut breast; gray-brown above; pale belly; long dark tail; red orbital ring; bold chestnut breast
African Cuckoo
African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common
About These Birds
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo (Cacomantis castaneiventris) — 20–24 cm. Grey above; bright chestnut breast and belly; grey chin; yellow orbital ring. Restricted to rainforest and forest edge of Cape York Peninsula, Australia, and southern New Guinea. Brood parasite targeting gerygones. Insectivore.
African Cuckoo
African Cuckoo (Cuculus gularis) — 32–35 cm. Very similar to Common Cuckoo; grey above; barred below; yellow bill base and orbital ring; long tail. Migratory intra-African breeder across sub-Saharan woodland and savanna. Brood parasite primarily targeting fork-tailed drongos. Insectivore.