Rusty-breasted Cuckoo vs African Cuckoo

Cacomantis sepulcralis compared with Cuculus gularis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Rusty-breasted Cuckoo African Cuckoo
Scientific Name Cacomantis sepulcralis Cuculus gularis
Order Cuculiformes Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae Cuculidae
Conservation Status Not Evaluated Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 41.8 cm (16.5 in)
Weight 31.95 g (1.13 oz) 105.0 g (3.70 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size -- --
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Rusty-breasted Cuckoo only

African Cuckoo only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Rusty-breasted Cuckoo

Song

Loud, raucous call with harsh penetrating quality; rough notes carrying through dense forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.

African Cuckoo

Song

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

Not Evaluated

Rusty-breasted Cuckoo

Least Concern

African Cuckoo

How to Tell Them Apart

Rusty-breasted Cuckoo

Plumage

Rusty-breasted Cuckoo: rusty-rufous breast; gray-brown above; pale belly; long dark tail; red eye-ring; bold rusty breast color

African Cuckoo

Plumage

African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common

About These Birds

Rusty-breasted Cuckoo

Rusty-breasted Cuckoo (Cacomantis sepulcralis) — 22–25 cm. Grey above; rich rusty-buff underparts; yellow orbital ring. Inhabits forest, forest edge, and plantations from the Malay Peninsula and Greater Sundas to the Philippines and Sulawesi. Brood parasite. 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.

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