Black-bellied Cuckoo vs Long-tailed Koel

Black-bellied Cuckoo

Piaya melanogaster

Medium103 gForest

The average length of adults is between 38 and 40.5 cm. The beak is of an intense purple/red color, the iris is dark red with a blue orbital skin and one yellow mole at the anterior side of each eye. The head is grey and contrasts with the ruffled back. The throat and chest are brown-reddish, cinnamon color and the belly and undertail coverts are black. The tail is black with conspicuous white stripes. The juveniles resemble adults. P. melanogaster occurs within the range of the similar squirrel cuckoo (Piaya cayana). Black-bellied cuckoos are distinguished by a dark face and grey crown. Voice: Their characteristic song is "dyerií-dyu, dyerií-dyu, dyerií-dyu…" sometimes repeated for a few minutes. It is often difficult to trace their position as they typically remain motionless in the forest when singing. They also produce faint grunts.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Tom Field · CC BY 4.0

Long-tailed Koel

Urodynamis taitensis

Medium117 gForest

The long-tailed koel is approximately 40–42 cm in length, with a wingspan of approximately 47–52 cm, and weighs about 120 grams. It has broad pointed wings and a long tail that is softly rounded at the tip. Its beak is short and stout with a slightly hooked tip. It has brown barring to brown upperparts, and dark streaking to white underparts. Both males and females share similar features. A juvenile cuckoo is markedly different from the adult: it is spotted, with buff underneath and on the sides of the head and neck. Adult. Top of head and hindneck, dark brown, boldly streaked buff.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Joe Dillon · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black-bellied Cuckoo and Long-tailed Koel.