{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Song & Call Comparison
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
Song & Call Comparison
Bay Coucal
Song
Deep, hollow resonant call; powerful low-frequency notes given from dense forest floor in Madagascar.
African Cuckoo
Song
Loud, far-carrying raucous call; harsh penetrating notes given from tall African forest canopy. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Geographic Range & Migration
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Conservation Status Comparison
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Bay Coucal
Least Concern
African Cuckoo
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
How to Tell Them Apart
Bay Coucal
Plumage
Greater Coucal: glossy blue-black head and underparts; rich chestnut wings; red eye; long graduated black tail; common large coucal
African Cuckoo
Plumage
African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
About Each Bird (Descriptions)
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
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.
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.
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Related Comparisons
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
More Birds in Family
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}