{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Song & Call Comparison
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
Song & Call Comparison
Ash-colored Cuckoo
Song
Loud, far-carrying melodic call; rich resonant notes given from tall forest tree in Southeast Asia. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
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.
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Geographic Range & Migration
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Conservation Status Comparison
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Ash-colored Cuckoo
Least Concern
African Cuckoo
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
How to Tell Them Apart
Ash-colored Cuckoo
Plumage
Levaillant's Cuckoo: brown-streaked above; white streaked below; long dark tail; large pale crest; African crested cuckoo species
African Cuckoo
Plumage
African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
About Each Bird (Descriptions)
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
Ash-colored Cuckoo (Coccycua cinerea) — 22–25 cm. Grey above; paler grey below; tail with white-tipped feathers; slim bill. Inhabits scrub, thorny forest, and dense secondary growth across southern South America from Bolivia and Brazil to Argentina. Non-parasitic. Insectivore.
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.
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Related Comparisons
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
More Birds in Family
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}