Greater Ani vs Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo
Crotophaga major compared with Neomorphus rufipennis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Greater Ani | Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crotophaga major | Neomorphus rufipennis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 38.7 cm (15.2 in) | 34.1 cm (13.4 in) |
| Weight | 184.625 g (6.51 oz) | 381.25 g (13.45 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
Shared Habitats
Greater Ani only
Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Greater Ani
Soft, wheezy call with plaintive quality; delicate notes given quietly from dense grassland cover at dawn.
Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo
Deep, hollow resonant call; powerful low-frequency sound carrying across dense lowland tropical forest floor.
Geographic Range & Migration
Greater Ani
Found in tropical forests, mangroves, and marshes from Mexico to Argentina. Resident in lowland wetland habitats.
Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo
Conservation Status
Greater Ani
Rufous-winged Ground-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
Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo
Pheasant Coucal: dark glossy black head and body; rufous-brown wings; strongly barred dark tail; reddish eye; terrestrial habits
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.
Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo
Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo (Neomorphus rufipennis) — 46–50 cm. Bronze-green above; rufous wing panels; pale buff below. Found in humid forest of Venezuela, Guyana, and northern Brazil. Non-parasitic; follows army ants. Insectivore and small vertebrate predator. Rarely encountered; Near Threatened.