Short-toed Coucal vs African Emerald Cuckoo
Centropus rectunguis compared with Chrysococcyx cupreus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Short-toed Coucal | African Emerald Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus rectunguis | Chrysococcyx cupreus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.0 cm (12.6 in) | 21.1 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 200.625 g (7.08 oz) | 38.0 g (1.34 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Short-toed Coucal
Deep, hollow booming call; resonant low notes carrying across dense humid West African lowland forest.
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
Short-toed Coucal
African Emerald Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Short-toed Coucal
Mangrove Coucal: dark glossy brown above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long graduated tail; red eye; mangrove forest specialist
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
Short-toed Coucal
Short-toed Coucal (Centropus rectunguis) — 35–40 cm. Rufous-brown with a black head; noticeably shorter tail than most coucals; heavy bill. Inhabits lowland and hill forest of the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, and Sumatra. Non-parasitic; builds a domed nest. Omnivore hunting large insects and small vertebrates. Vulnerable due to forest loss.
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.