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

Shared Habitats

Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo only

None

African Cuckoo only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo

Song

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

Song

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

Least Concern

Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo

Least Concern

African Cuckoo

How to Tell Them Apart

Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo

Plumage

Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo: olive-brown above; pale buff below; very long graduated dark tail; red eye; olive coloration diagnostic

African Cuckoo

Plumage

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.

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