Little Cuckoo vs African Cuckoo
Coccycua minuta compared with Cuculus gularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Little Cuckoo | African Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coccycua minuta | Cuculus gularis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 21.2 cm (8.3 in) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 37.5 g (1.32 oz) | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Little Cuckoo
Deep, hollow resonant call; powerful notes carrying across dense tropical forest in Southeast Asia. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native 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
Little Cuckoo
African Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Little Cuckoo
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
Little Cuckoo
Little Cuckoo (Coccycua minuta) — 22–25 cm. Small; rufous above; pale buff underparts; short tail with white tips; slim body. Inhabits dense vegetation near water, mangroves, and forest edge across northern South America from Panama to Peru and Brazil. 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.