Black-billed Coucal vs African Cuckoo
Centropus bernsteini compared with Cuculus gularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-billed Coucal | African Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus bernsteini | Cuculus gularis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 162.5 g (5.73 oz) | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Black-billed Coucal
Loud, clear whistled call with carrying quality; rich musical notes audible through dense humid forest.
African Cuckoo
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
Black-billed Coucal
African Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Black-billed Coucal
African Cuckoo
African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common
About These Birds
Black-billed Coucal
Black-billed Coucal (Centropus bernsteini) — 40–44 cm. Rufous-chestnut back and wings; black head and underparts; all-black bill. Restricted to northern and western New Guinea in lowland forest and scrub. Non-parasitic. Omnivore.
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.