African Cuckoo vs Striped Cuckoo
Cuculus gularis compared with Tapera naevia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Cuckoo | Striped Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cuculus gularis | Tapera naevia |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) | 21.2 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) | 49.980000000000004 g (1.76 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Insectivore specialising in hairy caterpillars rejected by other birds. Also takes beetles, grasshoppers, and small … |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Striped Cuckoo
Loud, raucous cackle with harsh quality; penetrating notes carrying well across open grassland and scrub.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Cuckoo
Striped Cuckoo
Found in grasslands and open habitats from Mexico through Central and South America to Argentina. Resident.
Conservation Status
African Cuckoo
Striped Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
African Cuckoo
African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common
Striped Cuckoo
Little Bronze-cuckoo (alt): small bronze-green cuckoo; barred white below; red eye; golden-bronze iridescence; typical bronze-cuckoo
About These Birds
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.
Striped Cuckoo
A medium-sized cuckoo (28-30 cm) found in grasslands and open habitats from Mexico through Central and South America. Brown-streaked plumage with a distinctive rufous cap and long tail. A brood parasite, laying eggs in the nests of other bird species, particularly ovenbirds.