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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
African Cuckoo
Song
Loud, far-carrying raucous call; harsh penetrating notes given from tall African forest canopy. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Chestnut-bellied Malkoha
Song
Loud, mellow whistled phrase; rich resonant notes building in deliberate sequence through forest canopy.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Least Concern
African Cuckoo
Near Threatened
Chestnut-bellied Malkoha
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
African Cuckoo
Plumage
African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common
Chestnut-bellied Malkoha
Plumage
Red-breasted Coua: brilliant rufous-red breast; gray head; olive-brown above; bare blue facial skin; long tail; Madagascar endemic
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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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.
Chestnut-bellied Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus sumatranus) — 40–45 cm. Dark blue-green above; chestnut belly; green bill; bare red orbital skin; long tail. Inhabits lowland and hill forest of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Non-parasitic. Insectivore specialising in hairy caterpillars.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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