Photo: Savi.odl / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-browed Coucal
Centropus superciliosus
White-browed Coucal (Centropus superciliosus) — Cuckoos & Turacos of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-browed Coucal (Centropus superciliosus) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 148 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 superciliosus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 148 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-browed Coucal is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The White-browed Coucal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-browed Coucal (Centropus superciliosus) is a member of the Cuculidae family, within the order Cuculiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, sc, also sw Arabian Pen.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 148 g, with a wing length of about 15.8 cm and a tail of around 20.9 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 7.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-browed Coucal?
The White-browed Coucal is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 148 g.
Where does the White-browed Coucal live?
The White-browed Coucal is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, sc, also sw Arabian Pen, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-browed Coucal belong to?
The White-browed Coucal (Centropus superciliosus) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the White-browed Coucal eat?
The White-browed Coucal is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-browed Coucal migrate?
The White-browed Coucal is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-browed 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 White-browed Coucal make?
1 real field recording of the White-browed 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 White-browed Coucal's range?
The White-browed Coucal has a mapped global range of about 7.3 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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