Whistling Yellowbill vs African Cuckoo
Ceuthmochares australis compared with Cuculus gularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Whistling Yellowbill | African Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ceuthmochares australis | Cuculus gularis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 24.4 cm (9.6 in) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 64.2 g (2.26 oz) | 105.0 g (3.70 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 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
Whistling Yellowbill
African Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Whistling Yellowbill
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
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 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.