Photo: J G Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Cuckoos & Turacos

Gabon Coucal

Centropus anselli

Gabon Coucal (Centropus anselli) — Cuckoos & Turacos of Africa.

The Gabon Coucal (Centropus anselli) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 210 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae Cuckoos
Genus Centropus
Species anselli

Where it lives

Cameroon to Angola and central DR Congo

Africa

Quick facts

Weight: 210 g
Diet: Invertebrate-eaters
Family: Cuculidae
Order: Cuculiformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Gabon Coucal is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Gabon Coucal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Gabon Coucal (Centropus anselli) is a species of bird in the Cuculidae family, part of the order Cuculiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Cameroon to Angola and c DR Congo.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 210 g, with a wing length of about 18.6 cm and a tail of around 28.6 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.1 million km².

Songs & calls

Gabon Coucal — Call

Recorded by Raphaël Jordan Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Gabon Coucal?

The Gabon Coucal is a large bird that weighs around 210 g.

Where does the Gabon Coucal live?

The Gabon Coucal is found across Africa with a range covering AF Cameroon to Angola and c DR Congo, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Gabon Coucal belong to?

The Gabon Coucal (Centropus anselli) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.

What does the Gabon Coucal eat?

The Gabon Coucal is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Gabon Coucal migrate?

The Gabon Coucal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Gabon Coucal endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Gabon Coucal make?

1 real field recording of the Gabon Coucal — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Gabon Coucal's range?

The Gabon Coucal has a mapped global range of about 1.1 million km².