Listen to the greater coucal
Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.
About the greater coucal
The greater coucal is a bird in the family Cuculidae (order Cuculiformes). Its conservation status on the IUCN Red List is “least concern”. Adults weigh around 319 g.
What does the greater coucal sound like?
Most birds have two kinds of vocalisation: songs, which are learned or innate phrases delivered mainly in spring and summer, and calls – brief contact, alarm and begging notes heard all year round. Listening for both helps with identification.
From Wikipedia
The greater coucal or crow pheasant (Centropus sinensis), is a large non-parasitic member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. A widespread resident in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, it is divided into several subspecies, some being treated as full species. They are large, crow-like with a long tail and coppery brown wings and found in a wide range of habitats from jungle to cultivation and urban gardens. They are weak fliers, and are often seen clambering about in vegetation or walking on the ground as they forage for insects, eggs and nestlings of other birds. They have a familiar deep resonant call which is associated with omens in many parts of its range.
Related birds in the genus Centropus
More from the family Cuculidae
Common cuckoo
Cuculus canorus
Great spotted cuckoo
Clamator glandarius
Common hawk-cuckoo
Hierococcyx varius
Yellow-billed cuckoo
Coccyzus americanus
Indian cuckoo
Cuculus micropterus
Guira cuckoo
Guira guira
Sirkeer malkoha
Taccocua leschenaultii
Large hawk-cuckoo
Hierococcyx sparverioides
African cuckoo
Cuculus gularis
Klaas's cuckoo
Chrysococcyx klaas
Black cuckoo
Cuculus clamosus
Frequently asked questions
What does a greater coucal sound like?
You can hear 3 recordings of the greater coucal on this page. Most birds have two kinds of vocalisation: songs, which are learned or innate phrases delivered mainly in spring and summer, and calls – brief contact, alarm and begging notes heard all year round.
Is the greater coucal endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the greater coucal as “least concern”.
What family does the greater coucal belong to?
The greater coucal (Centropus sinensis) belongs to the family Cuculidae in the order Cuculiformes.
Sources & credits
- Greater coucal - Centropus sinensis by Alasdair Forbes – CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis) from Ezhimala ML155333411 by Manoj Karingamadathil – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Morning call of Greater coucal or crow pheasant (Centropus sinensis) by Subhashish Panigrahi – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Wikidata Q767112 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Greater coucal – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo by J.M.Garg – CC BY-SA 3.0