Pearly-breasted Cuckoo vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Coccyzus euleri compared with Morococcyx erythropygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pearly-breasted Cuckoo | Lesser Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coccyzus euleri | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 26.3 cm (10.4 in) | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Weight | 52.46666666666667 g (1.85 oz) | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Pearly-breasted Cuckoo
Loud, melodic call with clear quality; rich resonant notes carrying far through tropical forest. 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
Pearly-breasted Cuckoo
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Pearly-breasted Cuckoo
Dwarf Cuckoo: smallest; rufous-brown above; pale buff below; rufous tail; yellow bill; smallest neotropical cuckoo species
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
Pearly-breasted Cuckoo
Pearly-breasted Cuckoo (Coccyzus euleri) — 26–30 cm. Brown above; white below with a faint pearly sheen; yellow lower mandible; tail with white spots. Inhabits forest and forest edge in northern and central South America. Non-parasitic. Insectivore. Partially migratory; less studied than its North American relatives.
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.