Andaman Coucal vs Blue-headed Coucal

Andaman Coucal

Centropus andamanensis

Medium234 gForest

It is a large coucal, with males being around 380–400 mm (12.6-15.7 inches) and females somewhat larger at 400–420 mm (15.7-16.5 inches) in length. Structurally, it closely resembles the greater coucal (Centropus sinensis), except that its plumage is a fawn brown as opposed to the black with bluish-purple sheen seen in C. sinensis. It has a chestnut rear mantle and wings and the head is pale tawny brown. The mantle and breast grade from pale to dark brown on the belly and vent. The iris is pale brown. The tail is a pale brown at the base and dark violet-brown towards the tip.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Кирилл · CC BY 4.0

Blue-headed Coucal

Centropus monachus

Medium201 gWetland

The blue-headed coucal is a medium-sized species growing to 45 to 52 cm (18 to 20 in) in length. The sexes are similar, the adult having the head, sides of neck and back black, glossed with blue, the lower back and rump black, the wings predominantly deep chestnut and the tail black, glossed with green or bronze. The underparts are white or pale buff. The eyes are dark red, the beak black and the legs and feet greyish-black.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: avocat · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Andaman Coucal and Blue-headed Coucal.