Coppery-tailed Coucal vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Centropus cupreicaudus compared with Morococcyx erythropygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Coppery-tailed Coucal | Lesser Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus cupreicaudus | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 42.2 cm (16.6 in) | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Weight | 264.0 g (9.31 oz) | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Coppery-tailed Coucal only
Lesser Ground-cuckoo only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Coppery-tailed Coucal
Deep, hollow resonant booming call; powerful low-frequency notes carrying across dense tropical forest habitat.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Conservation Status
Coppery-tailed Coucal
Lesser Ground-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
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
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.
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.