Cuban Lizard-cuckoo vs African Cuckoo
Coccyzus merlini compared with Cuculus gularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cuban Lizard-cuckoo | African Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coccyzus merlini | Cuculus gularis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 35.6 cm (14.0 in) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 172.16666666666666 g (6.07 oz) | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Cuban Lizard-cuckoo
Deep, resonant call with hollow quality; powerful low-frequency notes carrying across humid 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
Cuban Lizard-cuckoo
African Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Cuban Lizard-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
Cuban Lizard-cuckoo
Cuban Lizard-cuckoo (Coccyzus merlini) — 38–44 cm. Brown above; pale buff below; bare red orbital skin; long graduated tail with white tips. Endemic to Cuba and nearby islands. Non-parasitic; a specialist predator of lizards (Anolis and others). Also takes large insects.
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.