African Cuckoo vs Red-billed Ground-cuckoo
Cuculus gularis compared with Neomorphus pucheranii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Cuckoo | Red-billed Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cuculus gularis | Neomorphus pucheranii |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) | 33.7 cm (13.3 in) |
| Weight | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) | 330.0 g (11.64 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| 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.
Red-billed Ground-cuckoo
Loud, harsh cackling call; piercing raucous notes carrying well across tall dense tropical forest habitat.
Conservation Status
African Cuckoo
Red-billed Ground-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
Red-billed Ground-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.
Red-billed Ground-cuckoo
Red-billed Ground-cuckoo (Neomorphus pucheranii) — 46–50 cm. Greenish-brown above; rufous-buff below; bright red decurved bill; bare blue orbital patch. Inhabits dense lowland forest of western Amazonia in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. Non-parasitic; terrestrial; follows army ants for flushed prey. Insectivore. Secretive and rarely observed.