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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Dwarf Cuckoo
Song
Loud, harsh call with nasal penetrating quality; rough notes carrying through dense tropical forest.
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
Dwarf 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
Dwarf Cuckoo
Plumage
Jacobin Cuckoo: black above with white wing patch; white below; black crest; long dark white-tipped tail; crested African cuckoo
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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Dwarf Cuckoo (Coccycua pumila) — 20–23 cm. Very small; brown above with faint rufous tones; pale underparts; short rounded tail. Found in scrub, forest edge, and dense low vegetation of northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad). Non-parasitic. 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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