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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.
Red-faced Malkoha
Chant
Sharp, far-carrying call with penetrating quality; loud notes audible through tropical scrub habitat.
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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
Red-faced Malkoha
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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
Red-faced Malkoha
Plumage
Giant Coua: large dark blue-gray body; pale below; brilliant bare blue facial skin; long white-tipped dark tail; largest Madagascar coua
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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.
Red-faced Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus) — 45–48 cm. Dark green above; chestnut-red underparts; vivid scarlet bare facial skin and bill. Endemic to Sri Lanka in wet lowland and foothill forest. Non-parasitic. Insectivore. Vulnerable; dependent on intact forest and threatened by deforestation.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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