Coppery-tailed Coucal vs Guira Cuckoo
Centropus cupreicaudus compared with Guira guira
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Coppery-tailed Coucal | Guira Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus cupreicaudus | Guira guira |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 42.2 cm (16.6 in) | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) |
| Weight | 264.0 g (9.31 oz) | 141.73333333333335 g (5.00 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Omnivore of open South American country; eats large insects, small frogs, lizards, and bird eggs. … |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Coppery-tailed Coucal
Deep, hollow resonant booming call; powerful low-frequency notes carrying across dense tropical forest habitat.
Guira Cuckoo
Loud, gurgling call with hollow quality; distinctive multi-tonal sound carrying across open African savanna.
Geographic Range & Migration
Coppery-tailed Coucal
Guira Cuckoo
Found in open habitats across South America east of the Andes from Brazil to Argentina. Resident and gregarious.
Conservation Status
Coppery-tailed Coucal
Guira Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Coppery-tailed Coucal
Green-billed Coucal: green bill contrasting dark head; glossy black-brown above; rufous wings; pale below; long dark tail; red eye
Guira Cuckoo
Broad-billed Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; broadly barred white below; wide bars; reddish eye; Australian bronze cuckoo
About These Birds
Coppery-tailed Coucal
Coppery-tailed Coucal (Centropus cupreicaudus) — 45–50 cm. Large; chestnut back; black head; tail with coppery-bronze gloss; stout bill. Found in rank grass, papyrus, and dense scrub of Central to southern Africa. Non-parasitic. Omnivore; associated with floodplain habitats. Near Threatened due to wetland drainage.
Guira Cuckoo
A distinctive, socially gregarious cuckoo (36-42 cm) found in open habitats across South America east of the Andes. Shaggy orange-rufous crest, streaked plumage, and long tail. Omnivore, feeding on insects, small vertebrates, and eggs. Often seen in noisy family groups.