Short-toed Coucal vs Guira Cuckoo
Centropus rectunguis compared with Guira guira
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Short-toed Coucal | Guira Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus rectunguis | Guira guira |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.0 cm (12.6 in) | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) |
| Weight | 200.625 g (7.08 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 | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Short-toed Coucal
Deep, hollow booming call; resonant low notes carrying across dense humid West African lowland forest.
Guira Cuckoo
Loud, gurgling call with hollow quality; distinctive multi-tonal sound carrying across open African savanna.
Geographic Range & Migration
Short-toed Coucal
Guira Cuckoo
Found in open habitats across South America east of the Andes from Brazil to Argentina. Resident and gregarious.
Conservation Status
Short-toed Coucal
Guira Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Short-toed Coucal
Mangrove Coucal: dark glossy brown above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long graduated tail; red eye; mangrove forest specialist
Guira Cuckoo
Broad-billed Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; broadly barred white below; wide bars; reddish eye; Australian bronze cuckoo
About These Birds
Short-toed Coucal
Short-toed Coucal (Centropus rectunguis) — 35–40 cm. Rufous-brown with a black head; noticeably shorter tail than most coucals; heavy bill. Inhabits lowland and hill forest of the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, and Sumatra. Non-parasitic; builds a domed nest. Omnivore hunting large insects and small vertebrates. Vulnerable due to forest loss.
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.