Whistling Yellowbill vs Indian Cuckoo
Ceuthmochares australis compared with Cuculus micropterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Whistling Yellowbill | Indian Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ceuthmochares australis | Cuculus micropterus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 24.4 cm (9.6 in) | 39.3 cm (15.5 in) |
| Weight | 64.2 g (2.26 oz) | 120.5 g (4.25 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.
Indian Cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying raucous call; harsh penetrating notes given from tall dense forest canopy. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Conservation Status
Whistling Yellowbill
Indian Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Whistling Yellowbill
Indian Cuckoo
Indian Cuckoo: gray above; white below with bold dark barring; four-note call; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; common Asian species
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.
Indian Cuckoo
Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) — 32–34 cm. Grey above; barred underparts; yellow orbital ring; broad dark subterminal tail band. Migratory; widespread from India through Southeast Asia and China to Korea and Japan. Brood parasite targeting drongos and other medium passerines. Insectivore. Famous four-note 'one more bottle' call.