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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Andaman Coucal
Song
Melodic, whistled phrase with clear quality; pure resonant notes carrying across African woodland habitat.
Common Squirrel-cuckoo
Song
Harsh, far-carrying call with raucous quality; loud rough notes carrying through dense tropical forest.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Least Concern
Andaman Coucal
Least Concern
Common Squirrel-cuckoo
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Andaman Coucal
Plumage
Chinese Coucal: dark brown above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; streaked in winter plumage; Asian species
Common Squirrel-cuckoo
Plumage
Great Spotted Cuckoo: gray above with white spots; pale below; long white-spotted dark tail; long pale crest; European migrant
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Andaman Coucal (Centropus andamanensis) — 42–47 cm. Chestnut back and wings; black head and underparts; long graduated tail. Endemic to the Andaman Islands, India, in forest and scrub. Non-parasitic. Omnivore. Previously treated as a subspecies of Greater Coucal.
Common Squirrel-cuckoo (Piaya cayana) — 40–50 cm. Brilliant rufous-chestnut above and on breast; grey belly; yellow-green bill; very long tail with bold black-and-white tips. Widespread in forest and forest edge from Mexico to Bolivia and Argentina. Non-parasitic. Insectivore; agile forager in tree canopy catching large insects and caterpillars.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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