Little Bronze-cuckoo vs African Cuckoo

Chalcites minutillus compared with Cuculus gularis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Little Bronze-cuckoo African Cuckoo
Scientific Name Chalcites minutillus Cuculus gularis
Order Cuculiformes Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae Cuculidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 18.6 cm (7.3 in) 41.8 cm (16.5 in)
Weight 18.98 g (0.67 oz) 105.0 g (3.70 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1 --
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Little Bronze-cuckoo only

African Cuckoo only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Little Bronze-cuckoo

Song

Loud, far-carrying resonant call; deep melodic notes audible across dense humid tropical forest. 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

Little Bronze-cuckoo

Least Concern

African Cuckoo

How to Tell Them Apart

Little Bronze-cuckoo

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

Little Bronze-cuckoo

Little Bronze-cuckoo (Chalcites minutillus) — 14–16 cm. The smallest Australasian cuckoo; bronze-green above; white or lightly barred below; red orbital ring. Inhabits rainforest, mangroves, and scrub in New Guinea and northern Australia. Brood parasite targeting gerygones. 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.

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