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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Gabon Coucal
Song
Loud, far-carrying call with bold character; resonant deep notes given from tall forest tree in Africa.
African Emerald Cuckoo
Song
Deep, hollow resonant booming call; powerful low notes carrying far through dense tropical forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Least Concern
Gabon Coucal
Least Concern
African Emerald Cuckoo
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Gabon Coucal
Plumage
Andaman Coucal: dark glossy brown above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; Andaman island endemic coucal
African Emerald Cuckoo
Plumage
New Caledonian Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; barred white below; island endemic; red eye; iridescent bronze-green; small size
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Gabon Coucal (Centropus anselli) — 38–43 cm. Rufous-chestnut back and wings; black head and underparts; graduated tail. Confined to dense forest and swampy undergrowth of Gabon and Congo Basin. Non-parasitic. Omnivore; often forages near water. Previously treated as a subspecies of Black-throated Coucal.
African Emerald Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx cupreus) — 20–22 cm. Male: dazzling emerald green above and on breast; yellow belly; red bill. Female: bronze-green above; rufous-barred below. Inhabits primary forest and dense secondary growth across West and Central Africa. Brood parasite targeting sunbirds and other small passerines. Insectivore.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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