Ivory-billed Coucal vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Centropus menbeki compared with Morococcyx erythropygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ivory-billed Coucal | Lesser Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus menbeki | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 43.6 cm (17.2 in) | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Weight | 461.25 g (16.27 oz) | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Ivory-billed Coucal
Harsh, far-carrying call with deep quality; resonant rough notes carrying across African lowland forest.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Conservation Status
Ivory-billed Coucal
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Ivory-billed Coucal
Buff-headed Coucal: distinctive buff-white head; dark brown back; rufous wings; pale underparts; long dark tail; red eye; head 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
Ivory-billed Coucal
Ivory-billed Coucal (Centropus menbeki) — 60–68 cm. Very large; blackish-brown overall with a pale ivory-coloured heavy bill; long graduated tail. Found in forest and tall secondary growth of New Guinea and Aru Islands. Non-parasitic; builds an enclosed grass nest. Omnivorous; takes large invertebrates, lizards, frogs, and small mammals.
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.