Olive-capped Coua vs Indian Cuckoo

Coua olivaceiceps compared with Cuculus micropterus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Olive-capped Coua Indian Cuckoo
Scientific Name Coua olivaceiceps Cuculus micropterus
Order Cuculiformes Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae Cuculidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length — —
Wingspan 32.9 cm (13.0 in) 39.3 cm (15.5 in)
Weight 182.0 g (6.42 oz) 120.5 g (4.25 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1-3 --
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Olive-capped Coua only

None

Indian Cuckoo only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Olive-capped Coua

Song

Loud, harsh resonant call; penetrating notes carrying through tropical forest habitat in South Asia.

Indian Cuckoo

Song

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

Least Concern

Olive-capped Coua

Least Concern

Indian Cuckoo

How to Tell Them Apart

Olive-capped Coua

Indian Cuckoo

Plumage

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

Olive-capped Coua

Olive-capped Coua (Coua olivaceiceps) — 40–44 cm. Grey-brown with an olive-grey cap replacing the rufous cap of the related Red-capped Coua; bare blue orbital skin. Inhabits the southern semi-arid zone of Madagascar. Non-parasitic. Omnivore. Sometimes treated as a subspecies of Red-capped Coua.

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.

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