Pheasant Coucal vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Centropus phasianinus compared with Morococcyx erythropygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pheasant Coucal | Lesser Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus phasianinus | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 49.8 cm (19.6 in) | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Weight | 331.5 g (11.69 oz) | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-5 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Pheasant Coucal only
Lesser Ground-cuckoo only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Pheasant Coucal
Harsh, chattering call with coarse quality; rapid series of rough notes delivered from tropical forest perch.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Conservation Status
Pheasant Coucal
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Pheasant Coucal
Black-throated Coucal: black throat; brown streaked above; rufous wings; buff below; long dark tail; red eye; black throat diagnostic
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
Pheasant Coucal
Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus) — 55–70 cm. Very long-tailed; black head and underparts in breeding; streaked brown in non-breeding; rufous wings. Found in tall grass, cane fields, and scrub across Australia and New Guinea. Non-parasitic; builds a large domed grass nest. Insectivore and small vertebrate predator.
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.