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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