Yellow-billed Cuckoo vs African Cuckoo
Coccyzus americanus compared with Cuculus gularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Yellow-billed Cuckoo | African Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coccyzus americanus | Cuculus gularis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.7 cm (11.3 in) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 56.73333333333333 g (2.00 oz) | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-5 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying resonant call; deep musical notes audible impressively through dense tropical forest.
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
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
African Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Yellow-billed 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
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) — 27–32 cm. Brown above; white below; yellow lower mandible; rufous wing patches in flight; white-spotted tail. Migratory breeder in North America; winters in South America. Non-parasitic. Insectivore specialising in caterpillars and cicadas. Western population listed as Threatened.
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.