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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
African Emerald Cuckoo
Song
Deep, hollow resonant booming call; powerful low notes carrying far through dense tropical forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo
Song
Soft, descending whistled phrase; pure notes dropping gently in musical sequence from dense forest cover.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Least Concern
African Emerald Cuckoo
Least Concern
Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
African Emerald Cuckoo
Plumage
New Caledonian Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; barred white below; island endemic; red eye; iridescent bronze-green; small size
Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo
Plumage
Yellow-billed Cuckoo: olive-brown above; white below; yellow bill; rufous wing patches; white-spotted dark tail; North American
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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African Emerald Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx cupreus) — 20–22 cm. Male: dazzling emerald green above and on breast; yellow belly; red bill. Female: bronze-green above; rufous-barred below. Inhabits primary forest and dense secondary growth across West and Central Africa. Brood parasite targeting sunbirds and other small passerines. Insectivore.
Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo (Coccyzus pluvialis) — 45–50 cm. Large island cuckoo; brown above; rich chestnut-orange belly; long broad tail. Endemic to Jamaica in forest and woodland. Non-parasitic. Omnivore; eats large insects, lizards, and berries. The largest cuckoo in the Caribbean.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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