Bay Coucal vs Sulawesi Cuckoo

Centropus celebensis compared with Cuculus crassirostris

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Bay Coucal Sulawesi Cuckoo
Scientific Name Centropus celebensis Cuculus crassirostris
Order Cuculiformes Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae Cuculidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 36.4 cm (14.3 in) 41.2 cm (16.2 in)
Weight 244.4 g (8.62 oz) 85.0 g (3.00 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size -- --
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Bay Coucal only

None

Sulawesi Cuckoo only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Bay Coucal

Song

Deep, hollow resonant call; powerful low-frequency notes given from dense forest floor in Madagascar.

Sulawesi Cuckoo

Song

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

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Bay Coucal

Least Concern

Sulawesi Cuckoo

How to Tell Them Apart

Bay Coucal

Sulawesi Cuckoo

Plumage

Sulawesi Cuckoo: dark gray-brown above; pale below; long dark tail; yellow orbital ring; Sulawesi endemic; larger than most Cuculus

About These Birds

Bay Coucal

Bay Coucal (Centropus celebensis) — 40–45 cm. Deep chestnut body; black head, long tail, and underparts; red eye. Endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands in forest and scrub. Non-parasitic. Omnivore foraging in dense vegetation for lizards, large insects, and frogs.

Sulawesi Cuckoo

Sulawesi Cuckoo (Cuculus crassirostris) — 30–34 cm. Dark grey above; pale below with bold brown-grey barring; heavier bill than most Cuculus. Endemic to Sulawesi in montane forest. Brood parasite. Insectivore. Poorly known.

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