Goliath Coucal vs Guira Cuckoo
Centropus goliath compared with Guira guira
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Goliath Coucal | Guira Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus goliath | Guira guira |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 53.8 cm (21.2 in) | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) |
| Weight | 509.0 g (17.95 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 | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Goliath Coucal
Loud, far-carrying coo with resonant quality; deep notes building in dramatic sequence from forest perch.
Guira Cuckoo
Loud, gurgling call with hollow quality; distinctive multi-tonal sound carrying across open African savanna.
Geographic Range & Migration
Goliath Coucal
Guira Cuckoo
Found in open habitats across South America east of the Andes from Brazil to Argentina. Resident and gregarious.
Conservation Status
Goliath Coucal
Guira Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Goliath Coucal
Lesser Coucal: smaller; dark brown above; rufous wings; pale buff-white below; red eye; long graduated dark tail; less glossy
Guira Cuckoo
Broad-billed Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; broadly barred white below; wide bars; reddish eye; Australian bronze cuckoo
About These Birds
Goliath Coucal
Goliath Coucal (Centropus goliath) — 65–75 cm. The largest coucal; all-dark with a massive decurved bill; faint bronze-green gloss; very long tail. Endemic to the Moluccas, Indonesia, in primary lowland forest. Non-parasitic. Omnivore; hunts large lizards, birds, frogs, and invertebrates.
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.