Greater Ani vs Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
Crotophaga major compared with Hierococcyx bocki
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Greater Ani | Dark Hawk-Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crotophaga major | Hierococcyx bocki |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 38.7 cm (15.2 in) | 35.9 cm (14.1 in) |
| Weight | 184.625 g (6.51 oz) | 137.0 g (4.83 oz) |
| Diet | Insectivore of tropical South American marshes; eats hairy caterpillars, large beetles, and small lizards. Also … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-7 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Greater Ani
Soft, wheezy call with plaintive quality; delicate notes given quietly from dense grassland cover at dawn.
Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
Loud, raucous call with harsh quality; penetrating notes carrying through dense forest in South Asia.
Geographic Range & Migration
Greater Ani
Found in tropical forests, mangroves, and marshes from Mexico to Argentina. Resident in lowland wetland habitats.
Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
Conservation Status
Greater Ani
Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Greater Ani
Black-eared Bronze-cuckoo: dark ear patch; bronze-green above; barred white below; red eye; distinctive dark ear patches; small
Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
Dark Hawk-Cuckoo: dark brown above; pale below with dense dark barring; hawk-like; long barred tail; yellow orbital ring; dark morph
About These Birds
Greater Ani
A large, all-black cuckoo (46-48 cm) with a keeled bill and long tail. Found in tropical forests, mangroves, and marshes from Mexico to Argentina. Gregarious, often in groups of 8-20. Insectivore and small vertebrate predator. Communal nester, with several females sharing nests.
Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
Dark Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx bocki) — 28–31 cm. Dark grey above; pale below with darker streaking; barred tail. Restricted to montane forest of the Malay Peninsula. Brood parasite. Insectivore. Rare; poorly documented.