Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Coppery-tailed Coucal
Centropus cupreicaudus
Coppery-tailed Coucal (Centropus cupreicaudus) — Cuckoos & Turacos of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Coppery-tailed Coucal (Centropus cupreicaudus) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 285 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Cuculiformes
- Family Cuculidae Cuckoos
- Genus Centropus
- Species cupreicaudus
Where it lives
Southern DR Congo and southern, southwestern Tanzania to Angola, northern Botswana and Malawi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 285 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Coppery-tailed Coucal is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Coppery-tailed Coucal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Coppery-tailed Coucal (Centropus cupreicaudus) is a member of the Cuculidae family, within the order Cuculiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s DR Congo and s, sw Tanzania to Angola, n Botswana and Malawi.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 285 g, with a wing length of about 21.1 cm and a tail of around 24.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Coppery-tailed Coucal?
The Coppery-tailed Coucal is a large bird that weighs around 285 g.
Where does the Coppery-tailed Coucal live?
The Coppery-tailed Coucal is found across Africa with a range covering AF s DR Congo and s, sw Tanzania to Angola, n Botswana and Malawi, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Coppery-tailed Coucal belong to?
The Coppery-tailed Coucal (Centropus cupreicaudus) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Coppery-tailed Coucal eat?
The Coppery-tailed Coucal is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Coppery-tailed Coucal migrate?
The Coppery-tailed Coucal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Coppery-tailed 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 Coppery-tailed Coucal make?
1 real field recording of the Coppery-tailed Coucal — including its duet — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Coppery-tailed Coucal's range?
The Coppery-tailed Coucal has a mapped global range of about 1.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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