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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Bay Coucal
Chant
Deep, hollow resonant call; powerful low-frequency notes given from dense forest floor in Madagascar.
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.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Statut de conservation
Least Concern
Bay Coucal
Least Concern
African Cuckoo
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Bay Coucal
Plumage
Greater Coucal: glossy blue-black head and underparts; rich chestnut wings; red eye; long graduated black tail; common large coucal
African Cuckoo
Plumage
African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Bay Coucal (Centropus celebensis) — 40–45 cm. Deep chestnut body; black head, long tail, and underparts; red eye. Endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands in forest and scrub. Non-parasitic. Omnivore foraging in dense vegetation for lizards, large insects, and frogs.
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.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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