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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.
Raffles's Malkoha
Song
Loud, far-carrying resonant call; deep powerful notes audible through dense forest in Southeast Asia.
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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
Raffles's Malkoha
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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
Raffles's Malkoha
Plumage
Crested Coua: blue-gray body; white below; brilliant blue and red bare facial skin; long tail white-tipped; Madagascar forest species
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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.
Raffles's Malkoha (Rhinortha chlorophaea) — 30–35 cm. Slender; rufous above with green gloss; pale grey below; long white-tipped tail; red bill and orbital skin. Inhabits primary and tall secondary forest of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Non-parasitic; forages in the mid-storey. Insectivore; eats caterpillars and large insects.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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