African Emerald Cuckoo vs Thick-billed Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx cupreus compared with Pachycoccyx audeberti
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Emerald Cuckoo | Thick-billed Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysococcyx cupreus | Pachycoccyx audeberti |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 21.1 cm (8.3 in) | 44.1 cm (17.4 in) |
| Weight | 38.0 g (1.34 oz) | 104.0 g (3.67 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
African Emerald Cuckoo
Deep, hollow resonant booming call; powerful low notes carrying far through dense tropical forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Thick-billed Cuckoo
Deep, hollow resonant booming; powerful low notes carrying through dense humid Southeast Asian forest.
Conservation Status
African Emerald Cuckoo
Thick-billed Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
African Emerald Cuckoo
New Caledonian Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; barred white below; island endemic; red eye; iridescent bronze-green; small size
Thick-billed Cuckoo
Long-tailed Koel: males blue-black; females barred brown; very long tail; red eye; Pacific island koel; strongly dimorphic
About These Birds
African Emerald Cuckoo
African Emerald Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx cupreus) — 20–22 cm. Male: dazzling emerald green above and on breast; yellow belly; red bill. Female: bronze-green above; rufous-barred below. Inhabits primary forest and dense secondary growth across West and Central Africa. Brood parasite targeting sunbirds and other small passerines. Insectivore.
Thick-billed Cuckoo
Thick-billed Cuckoo (Pachycoccyx audeberti) — 32–36 cm. Hawk-like; dark brown above; white below with fine dark streaking; thick, strongly curved bill. Inhabits woodland and savanna of East and Central Africa from Tanzania to Malawi and Mozambique. Brood parasite targeting helmet-shrikes (Prionops). Insectivore. Rare and locally distributed.