Mangrove Cuckoo vs African Cuckoo
Coccyzus minor compared with Cuculus gularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mangrove Cuckoo | African Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coccyzus minor | Cuculus gularis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.0 cm (10.6 in) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 66.85000000000001 g (2.36 oz) | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Mangrove Cuckoo
Harsh, penetrating call with raucous quality; loud rough notes carrying through dense forest 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
Mangrove Cuckoo
African Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Mangrove 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
Mangrove Cuckoo
Mangrove Cuckoo (Coccyzus minor) — 28–32 cm. Brown above; buffy-orange wash on breast and belly; yellow lower mandible; long tail with white spots. Inhabits mangroves, tropical hammocks, and scrub from Florida and the Caribbean to northern South America. Non-parasitic. Insectivore feeding on caterpillars and invertebrates.
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.