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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Long-billed Cuckoo
Song
Loud, melodic call with resonant quality; rich carrying notes given from tall tropical forest tree. 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.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Least Concern
Long-billed Cuckoo
Least Concern
African Cuckoo
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Long-billed Cuckoo
Plumage
Little Bronze-cuckoo (Minutillus): smallest; bronze-green above; barred white below; red eye; iridescent golden-bronze; tiny size
African Cuckoo
Plumage
African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Long-billed Cuckoo (Chalcites megarhynchus) — 18–21 cm. Bronze-green above; white below with rufous barring; notably long bill. Inhabits montane and hill forest of New Guinea and nearby islands. Brood parasite; hosts include gerygones. Insectivore.
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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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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