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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
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.
Red-chested Cuckoo
Song
Loud, haunting call with mournful quality; deep resonant notes echoing through dense African forest.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Least Concern
African Cuckoo
Least Concern
Red-chested Cuckoo
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
African Cuckoo
Plumage
African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common
Red-chested Cuckoo
Plumage
Red-chested Cuckoo: gray above; rufous-orange breast; white belly; long dark graduated tail; red eye; bold rufous chest diagnostic
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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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.
Red-chested Cuckoo (Cuculus solitarius) — 28–32 cm. Grey above; orange-rufous breast; barred white belly; long tail; yellow orbital ring. Widespread in forest, woodland, and dense scrub across sub-Saharan Africa. Brood parasite targeting robin-chats and thrushes. Insectivore. Its three-note call — 'piet-my-vrou' in Afrikaans — is iconic.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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