Bay-breasted Cuckoo vs Guira Cuckoo
Coccyzus rufigularis compared with Guira guira
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Bay-breasted Cuckoo | Guira Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coccyzus rufigularis | Guira guira |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.2 cm (14.3 in) | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) |
| Weight | 128.0 g (4.52 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
Bay-breasted Cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying resonant call; deep melodic notes audible across dense tropical forest in Africa.
Guira Cuckoo
Loud, gurgling call with hollow quality; distinctive multi-tonal sound carrying across open African savanna.
Geographic Range & Migration
Bay-breasted Cuckoo
Guira Cuckoo
Found in open habitats across South America east of the Andes from Brazil to Argentina. Resident and gregarious.
Conservation Status
Bay-breasted Cuckoo
Guira Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Bay-breasted Cuckoo
Pearly-breasted Cuckoo: gray above; pearly-white below; long dark spotted tail; similar to Yellow-billed; South American species
Guira Cuckoo
Broad-billed Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; broadly barred white below; wide bars; reddish eye; Australian bronze cuckoo
About These Birds
Bay-breasted Cuckoo
Bay-breasted Cuckoo (Coccyzus rufigularis) — 44–48 cm. Large; brown above; deep rufous-chestnut breast; white belly; long tail with white spots. Endemic to Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic). Non-parasitic. Omnivore; hunts lizards, large insects. Endangered due to severe deforestation.
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.