Smooth-billed Ani vs Indian Cuckoo
Crotophaga ani compared with Cuculus micropterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Smooth-billed Ani | Indian Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crotophaga ani | Cuculus micropterus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 28.8 cm (11.3 in) | 39.3 cm (15.5 in) |
| Weight | 125.375 g (4.42 oz) | 120.5 g (4.25 oz) |
| Diet | Insectivore following cattle herds; eats grasshoppers, beetles, and hairy caterpillars flushed by grazers. Also takes … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-7 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Smooth-billed Ani
Rapid, bubbling call with liquid quality; pleasant gurgling notes cascading quickly from dense grassland cover.
Indian Cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying raucous call; harsh penetrating notes given from tall dense forest canopy. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Geographic Range & Migration
Smooth-billed Ani
Found from Florida and the Caribbean through Central and South America to Argentina. Resident in open habitats.
Indian Cuckoo
Conservation Status
Smooth-billed Ani
Indian Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Smooth-billed Ani
Indian Cuckoo
Indian Cuckoo: gray above; white below with bold dark barring; four-note call; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; common Asian species
About These Birds
Smooth-billed Ani
A medium-sized, all-black cuckoo (33-36 cm) with a distinctive high-keeled bill and long tail. Found from Florida and the Caribbean through South America. Gregarious, forming flocks. Omnivore, following cattle for disturbed insects. Communal nester with up to 29 eggs in one nest.
Indian Cuckoo
Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) — 32–34 cm. Grey above; barred underparts; yellow orbital ring; broad dark subterminal tail band. Migratory; widespread from India through Southeast Asia and China to Korea and Japan. Brood parasite targeting drongos and other medium passerines. Insectivore. Famous four-note 'one more bottle' call.