Grey-bellied Cuckoo vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Cacomantis passerinus compared with Morococcyx erythropygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Grey-bellied Cuckoo | Lesser Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cacomantis passerinus | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 22.6 cm (8.9 in) | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Weight | 24.884999999999998 g (0.88 oz) | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Grey-bellied Cuckoo only
Lesser Ground-cuckoo only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Grey-bellied Cuckoo
Loud, melodic call with musical resonant quality; rich notes building in sequence from forest canopy.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Conservation Status
Grey-bellied Cuckoo
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Grey-bellied Cuckoo
Grey-bellied Cuckoo: gray above; pale gray-white below; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; female has rufous morph; southern Asia
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
Grey-bellied Cuckoo
Grey-bellied Cuckoo (Cacomantis passerinus) — 21–24 cm. Grey above; pale grey below; yellow orbital ring. Inhabits open woodland, forest edge, and scrub across South Asia and Southeast Asia. Brood parasite targeting tailorbirds, babblers, and other passerines. 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.