African Cuckoo vs Sunda Cuckoo
Cuculus gularis compared with Cuculus lepidus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Cuckoo | Sunda Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cuculus gularis | Cuculus lepidus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) | 31.0 cm (12.2 in) |
| Weight | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) | 78.0 g (2.75 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| 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.
Sunda Cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying raucous call; harsh penetrating notes given from dense forest in Asia. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Conservation Status
African Cuckoo
Sunda 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
Sunda Cuckoo
Sunda Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; Sunda islands endemic 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.
Sunda Cuckoo
Sunda Cuckoo (Cuculus lepidus) — 28–31 cm. Grey above; barred underparts; yellow orbital ring. Restricted to montane forest of the Greater Sundas — Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. Brood parasite. Insectivore. Closely related to and formerly lumped with Himalayan and Oriental cuckoos.