Whistling Yellowbill vs African Emerald Cuckoo
Ceuthmochares australis compared with Chrysococcyx cupreus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Whistling Yellowbill | African Emerald Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ceuthmochares australis | Chrysococcyx cupreus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 24.4 cm (9.6 in) | 21.1 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 64.2 g (2.26 oz) | 38.0 g (1.34 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-4 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Whistling Yellowbill
Loud, harsh call with penetrating quality; rough resonant notes carrying through dense forest habitat.
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
Whistling Yellowbill
African Emerald Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Whistling Yellowbill
Blue Coua: brilliant turquoise-blue overall; darker wings; bare facial skin; long graduated tail; Madagascar endemic; spectacular blue
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
Whistling Yellowbill
Whistling Yellowbill (Ceuthmochares australis) — 30–35 cm. Very similar to Chattering Yellowbill — grey plumage; yellow bill; long tail — but distinguished by its melodic whistled song rather than chattering calls. Found in forest and forest edge in East and Southeast Africa from Kenya to Mozambique. Non-parasitic. Insectivore.
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.