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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.
Western Koel
Song
Loud, far-carrying nasal call; distinctive penetrating notes audible 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
Western Koel
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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
Western Koel
Plumage
Shining Bronze-cuckoo: brilliant iridescent golden-green above; white barred below; bronze-green head; reddish eye; 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.
Western Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) — 39–46 cm. Male glossy black; female brown with white spots and barred underparts; red eye. Widespread from South Asia through mainland Southeast Asia. Brood parasite targeting crows and mynas. Frugivore and insectivore. Its rising wailing call heralds the Indian summer.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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