Green-billed Coucal vs African Emerald Cuckoo
Centropus chlororhynchos compared with Chrysococcyx cupreus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Green-billed Coucal | African Emerald Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus chlororhynchos | Chrysococcyx cupreus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) | 21.1 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 244.4 g (8.62 oz) | 38.0 g (1.34 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Green-billed Coucal
Loud, nasal call with carrying quality; distinctive resonant notes given from tall African forest tree.
African Emerald Cuckoo
Deep, hollow resonant booming call; powerful low notes carrying far through dense tropical forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Conservation Status
Green-billed Coucal
African Emerald Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Green-billed Coucal
Sunda Coucal: dark glossy brown above; rufous wings; pale buff-cream below; long graduated dark tail; red eye; forest-dwelling
African Emerald Cuckoo
New Caledonian Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; barred white below; island endemic; red eye; iridescent bronze-green; small size
About These Birds
Green-billed Coucal
Green-billed Coucal (Centropus chlororhynchos) — 43–47 cm. Blue-black with a long graduated tail; pale greenish bill. Endemic to Sri Lanka in wet forest and dense riverine scrub. Non-parasitic. Omnivore; hunts lizards, large insects, and frogs. Vulnerable; highly forest-dependent and threatened by ongoing deforestation.
African Emerald Cuckoo
African Emerald Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx cupreus) — 20–22 cm. Male: dazzling emerald green above and on breast; yellow belly; red bill. Female: bronze-green above; rufous-barred below. Inhabits primary forest and dense secondary growth across West and Central Africa. Brood parasite targeting sunbirds and other small passerines. Insectivore.