Dark-billed Cuckoo vs Lesser Roadrunner
Coccyzus melacoryphus compared with Geococcyx velox
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Dark-billed Cuckoo | Lesser Roadrunner |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coccyzus melacoryphus | Geococcyx velox |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 23.3 cm (9.2 in) | 28.3 cm (11.1 in) |
| Weight | 53.125 g (1.87 oz) | 184.1 g (6.49 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | 2-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Dark-billed Cuckoo
Loud, harsh raucous call; piercing rough notes carrying powerfully through dense tropical forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Lesser Roadrunner
Loud, call carrying far; distinctive hollow notes audible across dry open Central American terrain. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Conservation Status
Dark-billed Cuckoo
Lesser Roadrunner
About These Birds
Dark-billed Cuckoo
Dark-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus melacoryphus) — 26–30 cm. Brown above; pale buff below; dark bill without yellow lower mandible; tail with white spots. Widespread from Colombia south to Argentina; migratory populations reach the Galápagos. Non-parasitic. Insectivore; forages in dense vegetation.
Lesser Roadrunner
Lesser Roadrunner (Geococcyx velox) — 46–52 cm. Similar to Greater Roadrunner but smaller with a more streaked breast. Found in dry scrub, open woodland, and arid valleys from Mexico to Nicaragua. Non-parasitic; carnivorous; eats insects and small vertebrates. Shares the same terrestrial running lifestyle as its northern relative.