White-browed Coucal
White-browed CoucalWhite-browed CoucalWhite-browed CoucalWhite-browed Coucal

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Silhouette: Nicolas Huet le Jeune and Jean-Gabriel Prêtre (vectorized by T. Michael Keesey) · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Samburu National Reserve
327 Verified sightings at Samburu National Reserve From 2019 to 2026
19,351 Verified sightings across all 48 parks From 2019 to 2026
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the White-browed Coucal

The white-browed coucal or lark-heeled cuckoo (Centropus superciliosus), is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa. It inhabits areas with thick cover afforded by rank undergrowth and scrub, including in suitable coastal regions. Burchell's coucal is sometimes considered a subspecies.

The white-browed coucal is a medium-sized species growing to 36 to 42 cm (14 to 17 in) in length. The sexes are similar, adults having a blackish crown and nape, a white supercilium, rufous-brown back, chestnut wings, blackish rump and black tail, glossed with green, with a white tip. The underparts are creamy-white, the eyes red, the beak black, and the legs and feet greyish-black or black. Juveniles have rufous streaking on the crown, a faint buff supercilium, barred upper parts and darker underparts.

The white-browed coucal is native to eastern and southern Africa, and the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Its range includes Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Samburu National Reserve

Jacobin Cuckoo
LC

Jacobin Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Clamator jacobinus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Dideric Cuckoo
LC

Dideric Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chrysococcyx caprius

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Great Spotted Cuckoo
LC

Great Spotted Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Clamator glandarius

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Klaas's Cuckoo
LC

Klaas's Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chrysococcyx klaas

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
African Cuckoo
LC

African Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cuculus gularis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Red-chested Cuckoo
LC

Red-chested Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cuculus solitarius

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Common Cuckoo
LC

Common Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cuculus canorus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~70%
2 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~60%
3 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~60%
4 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~50%
5 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~50%
6 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~50%
7 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~50%
8 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~50%
9 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~40%
10 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~40%
11 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~40%
12 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~40%
13 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
14 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
15 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
16 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
17 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
18 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
19 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
20 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
21 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
22 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
23 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~30%
24 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
25 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
26 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~20%
27 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
28 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~20%
29 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
~10%
30 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
31 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~10%
32 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
33 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
34 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
35 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
36 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
37 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
38 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
39 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
40 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
41 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
42 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
43 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
44 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
45 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
46 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data
47 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
48 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a White-browed Coucal in Samburu National Reserve?

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a White-browed Coucal sighting in Samburu National Reserve, based on 327 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see White-browed Coucal in Samburu National Reserve?

November has the highest sighting rate for White-browed Coucal in Samburu National Reserve in our monthly data.

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