Buff-headed Coucal vs Guira Cuckoo
Centropus milo compared with Guira guira
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Buff-headed Coucal | Guira Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus milo | Guira guira |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 52.8 cm (20.8 in) | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) |
| Weight | 766.0 g (27.02 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
Buff-headed Coucal
Deep, resonant booming call; powerful hollow notes carrying far across Melanesian lowland forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Guira Cuckoo
Loud, gurgling call with hollow quality; distinctive multi-tonal sound carrying across open African savanna.
Geographic Range & Migration
Buff-headed Coucal
Guira Cuckoo
Found in open habitats across South America east of the Andes from Brazil to Argentina. Resident and gregarious.
Conservation Status
Buff-headed Coucal
Guira Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Buff-headed Coucal
Black-faced Coucal: glossy black face; dark brown mantle; rufous wings; black underparts; red eye; long dark tail; bold facial mask
Guira Cuckoo
Broad-billed Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; broadly barred white below; wide bars; reddish eye; Australian bronze cuckoo
About These Birds
Buff-headed Coucal
Buff-headed Coucal (Centropus milo) — 58–65 cm. Massive coucal; jet-black body; pale buff-yellow head and neck; heavy decurved bill. Endemic to the Solomon Islands in lowland forest and dense scrub. Non-parasitic; builds a domed grass nest. Omnivore hunting large insects, lizards, frogs, and small mammals. One of the largest coucals globally.
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.