Red-fronted Coua vs African Cuckoo

Coua reynaudii compared with Cuculus gularis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Red-fronted Coua African Cuckoo
Scientific Name Coua reynaudii 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 148.5 g (5.24 oz) 105.0 g (3.70 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 2 --
Population Trend — —

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Red-fronted Coua only

None

African Cuckoo only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Red-fronted Coua

Song

Loud, harsh resonant call with nasal quality; penetrating notes carrying through dense forest in Asia.

African Cuckoo

Song

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

Least Concern

Red-fronted Coua

Least Concern

African Cuckoo

How to Tell Them Apart

Red-fronted Coua

African Cuckoo

Plumage

African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common

About These Birds

Red-fronted Coua

Red-fronted Coua (Coua reynaudii) — 36–40 cm. Brown-grey above; white below with rusty-orange frontal patch; bare blue orbital skin; long tail. Found in humid and sub-humid eastern and central forests of Madagascar. Non-parasitic; typically forages on or near the ground. Omnivore.

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.

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