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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.
Banded Ground-cuckoo
Chant
Loud, deep resonant booming call; powerful bass notes carrying across dense lowland tropical forest.
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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
Banded 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
Banded Ground-cuckoo
Plumage
Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo: dark brown above; buff below; rufous wing patches visible in flight; long tail; blue orbital ring; 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.
Banded Ground-cuckoo (Neomorphus radiolosus) — 48–52 cm. Dark brown; broad black breast bands; rufous belly; vivid blue orbital skin. Endemic to wet foothill forest of Colombia and Ecuador. Non-parasitic; follows army ant columns. Insectivore. Endangered due to severe habitat loss in its restricted range.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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