Black-billed Cuckoo vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Coccyzus erythropthalmus compared with Morococcyx erythropygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-billed Cuckoo | Lesser Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 27.4 cm (10.8 in) | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Weight | 53.20000000000001 g (1.88 oz) | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-5 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Black-billed Cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying resonant call; deep notes audible across dense forest in Asia. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Conservation Status
Black-billed Cuckoo
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Black-billed Cuckoo
Gray-capped Cuckoo: gray cap; brown above; pale below; graduated dark tail; South American species; forest cuckoo
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
Black-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) — 26–31 cm. Brown above; white below; all-dark bill; narrow red orbital ring; tail with small white spots. Migratory breeder in eastern North America; winters in South America. Non-parasitic. Insectivore specialising in tent caterpillars and other hairy larvae.
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.