Malagasy Coucal vs Guira Cuckoo
Centropus toulou compared with Guira guira
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Malagasy Coucal | Guira Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus toulou | Guira guira |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 31.1 cm (12.2 in) | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) |
| Weight | 154.5 g (5.45 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 | 2-3 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Malagasy Coucal
Melodic, beautiful descending phrase; clear flute-like notes with cascading richness, characteristic of Malagasy coua.
Guira Cuckoo
Loud, gurgling call with hollow quality; distinctive multi-tonal sound carrying across open African savanna.
Geographic Range & Migration
Malagasy Coucal
Guira Cuckoo
Found in open habitats across South America east of the Andes from Brazil to Argentina. Resident and gregarious.
Conservation Status
Malagasy Coucal
Guira Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Malagasy Coucal
Sulawesi Coucal: dark glossy brown above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; Sulawesi island endemic coucal
Guira Cuckoo
Broad-billed Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; broadly barred white below; wide bars; reddish eye; Australian bronze cuckoo
About These Birds
Malagasy Coucal
Malagasy Coucal (Centropus toulou) — 38–44 cm. Rufous-chestnut above; black head and underparts; long tail. Endemic to Madagascar in forest edge, secondary vegetation, and wetland margins. Non-parasitic. Omnivore. Two subspecies; common throughout the island.
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.