Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo vs African Cuckoo
Cercococcyx olivinus compared with Cuculus gularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo | African Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cercococcyx olivinus | Cuculus gularis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.8 cm (10.9 in) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 65.83333333333333 g (2.32 oz) | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying resonant call; deep hollow notes given repeatedly from dense forest canopy. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
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
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo
African Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo: olive-brown above; pale buff below; very long graduated dark tail; red eye; olive coloration diagnostic
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
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo (Cercococcyx olivinus) — 28–32 cm. Olive-brown above; pale buff below with faint barring; long tail. Found in montane and submontane forest of West and Central Africa. Brood parasite. Insectivore. Poorly known; locally rare.
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.