Violaceous Coucal vs African Cuckoo
Centropus violaceus compared with Cuculus gularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Violaceous Coucal | African Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus violaceus | Cuculus gularis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 49.6 cm (19.5 in) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 500.0 g (17.64 oz) | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Violaceous Coucal
Loud, resonant call with melodic quality; rich carrying notes audible through dense Madagascar lowland forest.
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
Violaceous Coucal
African Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Violaceous 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
Violaceous Coucal
Violaceous Coucal (Centropus violaceus) — 45–50 cm. Entirely deep blue-violet with a glossy sheen; long graduated tail; heavy black bill. Endemic to Manus Island and Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea. Inhabits forest and secondary growth. Non-parasitic. Omnivore.
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.