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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Cocos Cuckoo
Chant
Loud, resonant melodic call; rich notes building in musical sequence through dense tropical forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
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
Vulnerable
Cocos Cuckoo
Least Concern
African Cuckoo
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Cocos Cuckoo
Plumage
Black-bellied Cuckoo: rufous above; black belly; white throat; red orbital ring; long rufous tail; yellow-green bill; neotropical
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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Cocos Cuckoo (Coccyzus ferrugineus) — 31–35 cm. Richly rufous-brown above; cinnamon-buff below; graduated tail; yellow lower mandible. Endemic to Cocos Island, Costa Rica (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Non-parasitic. Insectivore. Vulnerable due to its extremely restricted range and introduced predators.
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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