Blue-headed Coucal vs Coppery-tailed Coucal

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

Coppery-tailed Coucal

Centropus cupreicaudus

Medium285 gWetland

An adult coppery-tailed coucal is about 48 cm (19 in) long and has a curved beak and long, broad tail. Males are slightly smaller than females. The coppery-tailed coucal's plumage is similar to that of the Senegal coucal (Centropus senegalensis). It has a black head and upperparts, white or cream-coloured underparts, a brown rump with a coppery-sheen and a blackish-brown tail. Immature birds have pale streaks on the head and their flight feathers are barred. The call of the coppery-tailed coucal consists of deep, bubbling notes.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Simon J. Tonge · CC BY 3.0

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