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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
African Emerald Cuckoo
Song
Deep, hollow resonant booming call; powerful low notes carrying far through dense tropical forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Red-capped Coua
Song
Loud, harsh call with nasal quality; penetrating notes carrying through dense tropical forest habitat.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Least Concern
African Emerald Cuckoo
Least Concern
Red-capped Coua
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
African Emerald Cuckoo
Plumage
New Caledonian Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; barred white below; island endemic; red eye; iridescent bronze-green; small size
Red-capped Coua
Plumage
Spot-winged Coucal: dark brown above with spotted wing coverts; rufous wings; pale below; long dark tail; red eye; spotted wings
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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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.
Red-capped Coua (Coua ruficeps) — 39–42 cm. Grey body with a distinctive rufous-red cap; bare blue orbital skin; long white-tipped tail. Found in the western and northern deciduous forests and scrub of Madagascar. Non-parasitic. Omnivore. Fairly common within suitable dry-forest habitat.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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