African Cuckoo vs Pallid Cuckoo
Cuculus gularis compared with Heteroscenes pallidus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Cuckoo | Pallid Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cuculus gularis | Heteroscenes pallidus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) |
| Weight | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) | 90.5 g (3.19 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.
Pallid Cuckoo
Loud, raucous call with harsh nasal quality; penetrating notes carrying through dense wet forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Conservation Status
African Cuckoo
Pallid 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
Pallid Cuckoo
Pallid Cuckoo: pale gray-brown above; white-cream below; long graduated gray-brown tail; yellow eye-ring; no barring; plain 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.
Pallid Cuckoo
Pallid Cuckoo (Heteroscenes pallidus) — 28–33 cm. Pale grey-brown above; whitish below with faint spotting; graduated tail; yellow orbital ring; notched bill. Widespread across Australia in woodland, open scrub, and grassland. Migratory. Brood parasite targeting a wide range of passerine hosts. Insectivore specialising in hairy caterpillars.