Goliath Coucal vs Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

Centropus goliath compared with Hierococcyx bocki

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Side-by-side Comparison Table ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Goliath Coucal Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
Scientific Name Centropus goliath Hierococcyx bocki
Order Cuculiformes Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae Cuculidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 53.8 cm (21.2 in) 35.9 cm (14.1 in)
Weight 509.0 g (17.95 oz) 137.0 g (4.83 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size -- --
Population Trend
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Visual Size Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #} {# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Habitat Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Goliath Coucal only

None

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo only

None

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Song & Call Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Song & Call Comparison

Goliath Coucal

Song

Loud, far-carrying coo with resonant quality; deep notes building in dramatic sequence from forest perch.

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

Song

Loud, raucous call with harsh quality; penetrating notes carrying through dense forest in South Asia.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Geographic Range & Migration ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #} {# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Conservation Status Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Goliath Coucal

Least Concern

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

How to Tell Them Apart

Goliath Coucal

Plumage

Lesser Coucal: smaller; dark brown above; rufous wings; pale buff-white below; red eye; long graduated dark tail; less glossy

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

Plumage

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo: dark brown above; pale below with dense dark barring; hawk-like; long barred tail; yellow orbital ring; dark morph

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

About These Birds

Goliath Coucal

Goliath Coucal (Centropus goliath) — 65–75 cm. The largest coucal; all-dark with a massive decurved bill; faint bronze-green gloss; very long tail. Endemic to the Moluccas, Indonesia, in primary lowland forest. Non-parasitic. Omnivore; hunts large lizards, birds, frogs, and invertebrates.

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx bocki) — 28–31 cm. Dark grey above; pale below with darker streaking; barred tail. Restricted to montane forest of the Malay Peninsula. Brood parasite. Insectivore. Rare; poorly documented.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Related Comparisons ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #} {# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ More Birds in Family ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family