Red-capped Coua vs African Cuckoo
Coua ruficeps compared with Cuculus gularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red-capped Coua | African Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coua ruficeps | Cuculus gularis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.8 cm (12.9 in) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 172.66666666666666 g (6.09 oz) | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Red-capped Coua
Loud, harsh call with nasal quality; penetrating notes carrying through dense tropical forest habitat.
African Cuckoo
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
Red-capped Coua
African Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Red-capped Coua
African Cuckoo
African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common
About These Birds
Red-capped Coua
Red-capped Coua (Coua ruficeps) — 39–42 cm. Grey body with a distinctive rufous-red cap; bare blue orbital skin; long white-tipped tail. Found in the western and northern deciduous forests and scrub of Madagascar. Non-parasitic. Omnivore. Fairly common within suitable dry-forest habitat.
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.