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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
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.
Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo
Chant
Deep, hollow booming call; resonant bass notes carrying surprisingly far across dense tropical forest floor.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Statut de conservation
Least Concern
African Cuckoo
Vulnerable
Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
African Cuckoo
Plumage
African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common
Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo
Plumage
Scaled Ground-cuckoo: pale buff below with dark scaling; brown above; blue orbital skin; long tail; banded underparts; runs on ground
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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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.
Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo (Neomorphus geoffroyi) — 46–50 cm. Bronzy-brown above; buff below; rufous vent; bare blue facial skin; decurved bill. Inhabits humid lowland forest from Mexico to South America. Non-parasitic; follows army ant swarms to catch flushed prey. Rare and secretive. Insectivore.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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