White-browed Coucal

As with most Cuculidae, sexual dimorphism is little to none, the female is only slightly larger than the male. In the adult of the nominate subspecies, the head is blackish-brown with a distinct white eyebrow. Against this dark background, creamy-white longitudinal streaks spread across the nape, cheeks, throat and upper chest, making the chin and throat clear. It looks very good. The mantle, back, wing coverts and tertial remiges are rufous-brown. The other remiges are vivid orange, which can be seen clearly in flight. The rump and the upperscans are black, finely barred with white and the rectrices are shiny black with greenish reflections. The undersides are pinkish-white, finely striped on the sides and the underside. The iris is reddish-brown. The powerful and curved culmen beak is black. The legs are blue-black. The juvenile is much less contrasted. The top of the head is brown, the iris is white and the beak is not really black. The upper parts are warm brown and barred with red on the wings. The pale streaks are discreet and very few. The cheeks and all the undersides are washed in red. In the south of the continent, the adult has a different appearance. The pale streaks are much less present. The cap, cheeks and nape are frankly black and the black extends a little on the mantle.