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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Rufous Coucal
Chant
Loud, far-carrying call with resonant quality; deep notes given repeatedly from tall African forest canopy.
African Emerald Cuckoo
Chant
Deep, hollow resonant booming call; powerful low notes carrying far through dense tropical forest. 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
Near Threatened
Rufous Coucal
Least Concern
African Emerald Cuckoo
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Rufous Coucal
Plumage
Short-toed Coucal: brown above; rufous wings; buff below; shorter tail than other coucals; red eye; more compact build
African Emerald Cuckoo
Plumage
New Caledonian Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; barred white below; island endemic; red eye; iridescent bronze-green; small size
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Rufous Coucal (Centropus unirufus) — 40–45 cm. Entirely bright rufous-chestnut above and below; stout black bill; red eye. Endemic to Luzon, Philippines, in primary and secondary forest and scrub. Non-parasitic; nests in low dense vegetation. Omnivore feeding on large insects, small lizards, frogs, and berries.
African Emerald Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx cupreus) — 20–22 cm. Male: dazzling emerald green above and on breast; yellow belly; red bill. Female: bronze-green above; rufous-barred below. Inhabits primary forest and dense secondary growth across West and Central Africa. Brood parasite targeting sunbirds and other small passerines. Insectivore.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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