{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Song & Call Comparison
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
Song & Call Comparison
Black-billed Coucal
Chant
Loud, clear whistled call with carrying quality; rich musical notes audible through dense humid forest.
African Cuckoo
Chant
Loud, far-carrying raucous call; harsh penetrating notes given from tall African forest canopy. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Geographic Range & Migration
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Conservation Status Comparison
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
Statut de conservation
Least Concern
Black-billed Coucal
Least Concern
African Cuckoo
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
How to Tell Them Apart
Black-billed Coucal
Plumage
White-browed Coucal: white supercilium stripe; brown-streaked above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye
African Cuckoo
Plumage
African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
About Each Bird (Descriptions)
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
Black-billed Coucal (Centropus bernsteini) — 40–44 cm. Rufous-chestnut back and wings; black head and underparts; all-black bill. Restricted to northern and western New Guinea in lowland forest and scrub. Non-parasitic. Omnivore.
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.
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Related Comparisons
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
More Birds in Family
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}