Friday, September 12, 2025

White-Browed Coucal

I did a post on the white-browed coucal on June 27, 2014, based on a lone bird we saw in Nairobi NP in Kenya. On our recent trip to Uganda in July we saw several more white-browed coucals near Pakuba Lodge in Murchison Falls NP and in Kidepo Valley NP. 
This photo, and the next, were near Pakuba Lodge.

The rump is finely barred black and buff. The back is rufous-brown. Juveniles are streaked buff and brown on the head and neck and I believe this is a juvenile.  

Also in Murchison Falls NP. The tail is long, heavy and green-glossed black, the wings are chestnut. 

This photo, and the rest, were in Kidepo Valley NP.


It is whitish below and the breast has creamy yellowish to whitish hackles (the group of feathers found along the back and side of the neck) and the iris is red.

The head is dark brown with a broad white supercilium between the bill and back of the head and over the eye. 
The white-browed coucal is generally the most common coucal across much of Africa. It prefers wet areas and is found mostly in lowlands, among marshes, riversides, tall grass and thickets. 
Illustration from Birds of the World.

Range from Birds of the World. 


1 comment:

  1. I like the third photo that shows the heavy tail feathers. It really matches the drawing you include.

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