Banded Bay Cuckoo vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Cacomantis sonneratii compared with Morococcyx erythropygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Banded Bay Cuckoo | Lesser Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cacomantis sonneratii | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 21.5 cm (8.5 in) | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Weight | 32.95 g (1.16 oz) | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Banded Bay Cuckoo
Loud, resonant call with raucous quality; harsh carrying notes given from tropical forest perch. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Conservation Status
Banded Bay Cuckoo
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Banded Bay Cuckoo
Banded Bay Cuckoo: rufous bay-brown above; pale below with dark barring; supercilium; long barred tail; banded underparts pattern
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
Banded Bay Cuckoo
Banded Bay Cuckoo (Cacomantis sonneratii) — 22–25 cm. Brown above with rufous barring; white below with heavy brown barring; yellow orbital ring. Inhabits forest and forest edge from India through Southeast Asia to the Lesser Sundas. Brood parasite targeting warblers and babblers. 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.