African Cuckoo vs Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
Cuculus gularis compared with Hierococcyx bocki
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Cuckoo | Dark Hawk-Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cuculus gularis | Hierococcyx bocki |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) | 35.9 cm (14.1 in) |
| Weight | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) | 137.0 g (4.83 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.
Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
Loud, raucous call with harsh quality; penetrating notes carrying through dense forest in South Asia.
Conservation Status
African Cuckoo
Dark Hawk-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
Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
Dark Hawk-Cuckoo: dark brown above; pale below with dense dark barring; hawk-like; long barred tail; yellow orbital ring; dark morph
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.
Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
Dark Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx bocki) — 28–31 cm. Dark grey above; pale below with darker streaking; barred tail. Restricted to montane forest of the Malay Peninsula. Brood parasite. Insectivore. Rare; poorly documented.