Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo vs Guira Cuckoo
Cercococcyx mechowi compared with Guira guira
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo | Guira Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cercococcyx mechowi | Guira guira |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 26.1 cm (10.3 in) | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) |
| Weight | 57.0 g (2.01 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
Shared Habitats
None
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo only
Guira Cuckoo only
Song & Call Comparison
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
Loud, raucous call with hollow resonant quality; distinctive far-carrying notes through dense forest.
Guira Cuckoo
Loud, gurgling call with hollow quality; distinctive multi-tonal sound carrying across open African savanna.
Geographic Range & Migration
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
Guira Cuckoo
Found in open habitats across South America east of the Andes from Brazil to Argentina. Resident and gregarious.
Conservation Status
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
Guira Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo: dark dusky brown above; pale buff below; very long graduated dark tail; red eye; forest canopy specialist
Guira Cuckoo
Broad-billed Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; broadly barred white below; wide bars; reddish eye; Australian bronze cuckoo
About These Birds
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo (Cercococcyx mechowi) — 28–32 cm. Dark brown above; pale buff below with fine dark barring; very long graduated tail. Inhabits dense forest understorey across Central Africa. Brood parasite targeting ant-thrushes and other forest passerines. Insectivore. Secretive; more often heard than seen.
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.