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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Moluccan Cuckoo
Song
Loud, far-carrying call with raucous quality; harsh penetrating notes given from forest perch. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Song
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Least Concern
Moluccan Cuckoo
Least Concern
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Moluccan Cuckoo
Plumage
Moluccan Cuckoo: dark olive-brown above; pale buff below; long dark graduated tail; yellow eye-ring; Moluccan island endemic
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Plumage
Greater Roadrunner: boldly streaked brown above; white-cream below with dark streaks; long tail; shaggy crest; bare facial skin; fast runner
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Moluccan Cuckoo (Cacomantis aeruginosus) — 22–25 cm. Brown above with greenish gloss; pale buff-rufous below; yellow orbital ring. Endemic to the Moluccas, Indonesia. Inhabits forest and forest edge. Brood parasite. Insectivore.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo (Morococcyx erythropygus) — 28 cm. Brown above; chestnut rump; whitish underparts; bare blue orbital skin. Inhabits dry and semi-arid scrub from Mexico to Costa Rica. Non-parasitic; builds its own nest in low shrubs. Runs on the ground hunting large insects, lizards, and amphibians. Monotypic genus endemic to Mesoamerica.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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