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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Black-throated Coucal
Song
Deep, hollow resonant booming call; powerful low notes carrying across rainforest in Southeast Asia.
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.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Least Concern
Black-throated Coucal
Least Concern
African Cuckoo
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Black-throated Coucal
Plumage
White-elbowed Coucal: white elbow patch; dark brown above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; white elbow spot
African Cuckoo
Plumage
African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Black-throated Coucal (Centropus leucogaster) — 40–46 cm. Rufous above; black head, throat, and breast; white belly; long tail. Inhabits dense forest and secondary growth in West and Central Africa. Non-parasitic. Omnivore; secretive in dense undergrowth.
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.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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