Pied Coucal vs Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo

Centropus ateralbus compared with Neomorphus rufipennis

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Pied Coucal Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo
Scientific Name Centropus ateralbus Neomorphus rufipennis
Order Cuculiformes Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae Cuculidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 42.0 cm (16.5 in) 34.1 cm (13.4 in)
Weight 336.75 g (11.88 oz) 381.25 g (13.45 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 2 --
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Pied Coucal only

None

Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo only

None

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Song & Call Comparison

Pied Coucal

Song

Loud, far-carrying cooing call; deep resonant notes given repeatedly from tall forest tree in Africa.

Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo

Song

Deep, hollow resonant call; powerful low-frequency sound carrying across dense lowland tropical forest floor.

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Pied Coucal

Least Concern

Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo

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How to Tell Them Apart

Pied Coucal

Plumage

Biak Coucal: dark brown above with iridescent gloss; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; Biak island endemic

Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo

Plumage

Pheasant Coucal: dark glossy black head and body; rufous-brown wings; strongly barred dark tail; reddish eye; terrestrial habits

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About These Birds

Pied Coucal

Pied Coucal (Centropus ateralbus) — 55–60 cm. Striking black-and-white coucal; glossy black wings and tail; pure white head, neck, and underparts. Restricted to New Britain and nearby islands (Papua New Guinea) in forest edge and secondary growth. Non-parasitic. Omnivore; hunts lizards, large insects, and small vertebrates. Status locally secure.

Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo

Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo (Neomorphus rufipennis) — 46–50 cm. Bronze-green above; rufous wing panels; pale buff below. Found in humid forest of Venezuela, Guyana, and northern Brazil. Non-parasitic; follows army ants. Insectivore and small vertebrate predator. Rarely encountered; Near Threatened.

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