African Cuckoo vs Fork-tailed Drongo-cuckoo
Cuculus gularis compared with Surniculus dicruroides
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Cuckoo | Fork-tailed Drongo-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cuculus gularis | Surniculus dicruroides |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) |
| Weight | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) | 34.96666666666667 g (1.23 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.
Fork-tailed Drongo-cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying call with harsh quality; penetrating rough notes given from tall forest canopy. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Conservation Status
African Cuckoo
Fork-tailed Drongo-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
Fork-tailed Drongo-cuckoo
Fork-tailed Drongo-cuckoo: glossy black; deeply forked tail; drongo mimic; pale tail base; red eye; southeast Asian species
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.
Fork-tailed Drongo-cuckoo
Fork-tailed Drongo-cuckoo (Surniculus dicruroides) — 25–28 cm. Glossy black with forked tail; resembles drongo closely; fine white barring on vent. Found across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia in forest and forest edge. Brood parasite; mimics drongos to approach host nests. Insectivore.