Smooth-billed Ani vs African Cuckoo
Crotophaga ani compared with Cuculus gularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Smooth-billed Ani | African Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crotophaga ani | Cuculus gularis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.8 cm (11.3 in) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 125.375 g (4.42 oz) | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) |
| Diet | Insectivore following cattle herds; eats grasshoppers, beetles, and hairy caterpillars flushed by grazers. Also takes … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-7 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Smooth-billed Ani
Rapid, bubbling call with liquid quality; pleasant gurgling notes cascading quickly from dense grassland cover.
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
Smooth-billed Ani
Found from Florida and the Caribbean through Central and South America to Argentina. Resident in open habitats.
African Cuckoo
Conservation Status
Smooth-billed Ani
African Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Smooth-billed Ani
New Britain Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; barred white below; red eye; island endemic; iridescent bronze-green coloration
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
Smooth-billed Ani
A medium-sized, all-black cuckoo (33-36 cm) with a distinctive high-keeled bill and long tail. Found from Florida and the Caribbean through South America. Gregarious, forming flocks. Omnivore, following cattle for disturbed insects. Communal nester with up to 29 eggs in one nest.
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.