Giant Coua vs Guira Cuckoo
Coua gigas compared with Guira guira
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Giant Coua | Guira Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coua gigas | Guira guira |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 42.5 cm (16.7 in) | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) |
| Weight | 430.0 g (15.17 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 | 3 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Giant Coua
Loud, raucous call with harsh quality; piercing rough notes carrying far through dense forest habitat.
Guira Cuckoo
Loud, gurgling call with hollow quality; distinctive multi-tonal sound carrying across open African savanna.
Geographic Range & Migration
Giant Coua
Guira Cuckoo
Found in open habitats across South America east of the Andes from Brazil to Argentina. Resident and gregarious.
Conservation Status
Giant Coua
Guira Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Giant Coua
Coral-billed Ground-cuckoo: dark green above; bright coral-red bill; rufous below; blue orbital skin; long tail; vivid bill diagnostic
Guira Cuckoo
Broad-billed Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; broadly barred white below; wide bars; reddish eye; Australian bronze cuckoo
About These Birds
Giant Coua
Giant Coua (Coua gigas) — 58–62 cm. Largest coua; grey-brown above; vinous-buff below; bare blue orbital skin; massive heavy bill; long tail. Found in western dry deciduous forests of Madagascar. Non-parasitic; feeds on the ground and in trees. Omnivore; takes large invertebrates, lizards, and fruits. Declining due to forest loss.
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.