Coppery-tailed Coucal vs African Cuckoo
Centropus cupreicaudus compared with Cuculus gularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Coppery-tailed Coucal | African Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus cupreicaudus | Cuculus gularis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 42.2 cm (16.6 in) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 264.0 g (9.31 oz) | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Coppery-tailed Coucal
Deep, hollow resonant booming call; powerful low-frequency notes carrying across dense tropical forest habitat.
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
Coppery-tailed Coucal
African Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Coppery-tailed 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
Coppery-tailed Coucal
Coppery-tailed Coucal (Centropus cupreicaudus) — 45–50 cm. Large; chestnut back; black head; tail with coppery-bronze gloss; stout bill. Found in rank grass, papyrus, and dense scrub of Central to southern Africa. Non-parasitic. Omnivore; associated with floodplain habitats. Near Threatened due to wetland drainage.
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.