Jamaican Lizard-cuckoo vs Guira Cuckoo
Coccyzus vetula compared with Guira guira
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Jamaican Lizard-cuckoo | Guira Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coccyzus vetula | Guira guira |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 24.1 cm (9.5 in) | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) |
| Weight | 95.5 g (3.37 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
Song & Call Comparison
Jamaican Lizard-cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying resonant call with melodic quality; clear rich notes given from tall forest tree.
Guira Cuckoo
Loud, gurgling call with hollow quality; distinctive multi-tonal sound carrying across open African savanna.
Geographic Range & Migration
Jamaican Lizard-cuckoo
Guira Cuckoo
Found in open habitats across South America east of the Andes from Brazil to Argentina. Resident and gregarious.
Conservation Status
Jamaican Lizard-cuckoo
Guira Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Jamaican Lizard-cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo: olive-brown above; white below; black bill; long dark tail; white-buff tipped tail; North American migrant
Guira Cuckoo
Broad-billed Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; broadly barred white below; wide bars; reddish eye; Australian bronze cuckoo
About These Birds
Jamaican Lizard-cuckoo
Jamaican Lizard-cuckoo (Coccyzus vetula) — 37–42 cm. Brown above; cinnamon-buff underparts; long tail with bold white tips; bare red orbital skin. Endemic to Jamaica in forest and wooded scrub. Non-parasitic; specialised lizard hunter, hence the name. Also eats large insects and small vertebrates.
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.