Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo vs African Cuckoo
Cercococcyx mechowi compared with Cuculus gularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo | African Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cercococcyx mechowi | Cuculus gularis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 26.1 cm (10.3 in) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 57.0 g (2.01 oz) | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
Loud, raucous call with hollow resonant quality; distinctive far-carrying notes through dense 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
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
African Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo: dark dusky brown above; pale buff below; very long graduated dark tail; red eye; forest canopy specialist
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
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo (Cercococcyx mechowi) — 28–32 cm. Dark brown above; pale buff below with fine dark barring; very long graduated tail. Inhabits dense forest understorey across Central Africa. Brood parasite targeting ant-thrushes and other forest passerines. Insectivore. Secretive; more often heard than seen.
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.