Snail-eating Coua vs Indian Cuckoo
Coua delalandei compared with Cuculus micropterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Snail-eating Coua | Indian Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coua delalandei | Cuculus micropterus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Extinct | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 39.3 cm (15.5 in) |
| Weight | 110.0 g (3.88 oz) | 120.5 g (4.25 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Snail-eating Coua
Loud, far-carrying melodic call; rich clear resonant notes audible through tropical forest in Asia. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Indian Cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying raucous call; harsh penetrating notes given from tall dense forest canopy. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Conservation Status
Snail-eating Coua
Indian Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Snail-eating Coua
Indian Cuckoo
Indian Cuckoo: gray above; white below with bold dark barring; four-note call; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; common Asian species
About These Birds
Snail-eating Coua
Snail-eating Coua (Coua delalandei) — ~55 cm. Extinct. Last recorded on Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar, in the mid-19th century. Large terrestrial cuckoo; purplish-blue and brown plumage; bare blue orbital skin. Presumed a specialist predator of large land snails. Driven to extinction by hunting and introduced predators.
Indian Cuckoo
Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) — 32–34 cm. Grey above; barred underparts; yellow orbital ring; broad dark subterminal tail band. Migratory; widespread from India through Southeast Asia and China to Korea and Japan. Brood parasite targeting drongos and other medium passerines. Insectivore. Famous four-note 'one more bottle' call.