Verreaux's Coua vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Coua verreauxi compared with Morococcyx erythropygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Verreaux's Coua | Lesser Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coua verreauxi | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 26.0 cm (10.2 in) | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Weight | 98.66666666666667 g (3.48 oz) | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Song & Call Comparison
Verreaux's Coua
Loud, far-carrying melodic call; rich resonant notes carrying powerfully through dense humid forest.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Conservation Status
Verreaux's Coua
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Verreaux's Coua
Violet Coucal: brilliant violet-blue iridescent body; rufous wings; dark graduated tail; red eye; violet iridescence striking
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
Verreaux's Coua
Verreaux's Coua (Coua verreauxi) — 38–42 cm. Brown-grey above; rufous-buff below; long tail with white tips; small bare blue orbital ring. Restricted to the extreme south and southwest of Madagascar in spiny desert and xeric scrub. Non-parasitic. Omnivore. Near Threatened due to its narrow habitat range.
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.