Plaintive Cuckoo vs Sulawesi Cuckoo
Cacomantis merulinus compared with Cuculus crassirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Plaintive Cuckoo | Sulawesi Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cacomantis merulinus | Cuculus crassirostris |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 20.8 cm (8.2 in) | 41.2 cm (16.2 in) |
| Weight | 25.75 g (0.91 oz) | 85.0 g (3.00 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Plaintive Cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying resonant call; deep notes given from dense forest canopy in Africa. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Sulawesi Cuckoo
Loud, raucous call with harsh quality; penetrating notes carrying through dense forest in Asia. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Conservation Status
Plaintive Cuckoo
Sulawesi Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Plaintive Cuckoo
Plaintive Cuckoo: gray-brown above; rufous-orange below; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; sexually dimorphic rufous morph females
Sulawesi Cuckoo
Sulawesi Cuckoo: dark gray-brown above; pale below; long dark tail; yellow orbital ring; Sulawesi endemic; larger than most Cuculus
About These Birds
Plaintive Cuckoo
Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) — 20–24 cm. Male: grey above; rufous-orange below; yellow orbital skin. Female: heavily barred morph often differs. Widespread in South and Southeast Asia from Bangladesh to the Philippines. Brood parasite targeting tailorbirds and other warblers. Insectivore. Named for its plaintive descending whistle.
Sulawesi Cuckoo
Sulawesi Cuckoo (Cuculus crassirostris) — 30–34 cm. Dark grey above; pale below with bold brown-grey barring; heavier bill than most Cuculus. Endemic to Sulawesi in montane forest. Brood parasite. Insectivore. Poorly known.