Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Cacomantis castaneiventris compared with Morococcyx erythropygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo | Lesser Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cacomantis castaneiventris | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 22.1 cm (8.7 in) | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Weight | 31.5 g (1.11 oz) | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo only
Lesser Ground-cuckoo only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying resonant call with chestnut-breasted quality; deep hollow notes carrying through Pacific forest.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Conservation Status
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo: rich chestnut breast; gray-brown above; pale belly; long dark tail; red orbital ring; bold chestnut breast
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Greater Roadrunner: boldly streaked brown above; white-cream below with dark streaks; long tail; shaggy crest; bare facial skin; fast runner
About These Birds
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo (Cacomantis castaneiventris) — 20–24 cm. Grey above; bright chestnut breast and belly; grey chin; yellow orbital ring. Restricted to rainforest and forest edge of Cape York Peninsula, Australia, and southern New Guinea. Brood parasite targeting gerygones. Insectivore.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
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.