Buff-headed Coucal vs African Emerald Cuckoo
Centropus milo compared with Chrysococcyx cupreus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Buff-headed Coucal | African Emerald Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus milo | Chrysococcyx cupreus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 52.8 cm (20.8 in) | 21.1 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 766.0 g (27.02 oz) | 38.0 g (1.34 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Buff-headed Coucal
Deep, resonant booming call; powerful hollow notes carrying far across Melanesian lowland forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
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
Buff-headed Coucal
African Emerald Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Buff-headed Coucal
Black-faced Coucal: glossy black face; dark brown mantle; rufous wings; black underparts; red eye; long dark tail; bold facial mask
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
Buff-headed Coucal
Buff-headed Coucal (Centropus milo) — 58–65 cm. Massive coucal; jet-black body; pale buff-yellow head and neck; heavy decurved bill. Endemic to the Solomon Islands in lowland forest and dense scrub. Non-parasitic; builds a domed grass nest. Omnivore hunting large insects, lizards, frogs, and small mammals. One of the largest coucals globally.
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.