Groove-billed Ani vs African Cuckoo
Crotophaga sulcirostris compared with Cuculus gularis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Groove-billed Ani | African Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crotophaga sulcirostris | Cuculus gularis |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 25.9 cm (10.2 in) | 41.8 cm (16.5 in) |
| Weight | 80.3 g (2.83 oz) | 105.0 g (3.70 oz) |
| Diet | Insectivore of open country; eats grasshoppers, beetles, and hairy caterpillars. Forages near grazing animals that … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-4 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Groove-billed Ani
Loud, far-carrying display call; deep hollow notes audible across open European grassland habitat at dawn.
African Cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying raucous call; harsh penetrating notes given from tall African forest canopy. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Geographic Range & Migration
Groove-billed Ani
Found from southern Texas through Central America to South America. Resident in open country and agricultural areas.
African Cuckoo
Conservation Status
Groove-billed Ani
African Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Groove-billed Ani
African Cuckoo
African Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; African migrant similar to Common
About These Birds
Groove-billed Ani
A medium-sized, all-black cuckoo (30-34 cm) with a grooved bill. Found from southern Texas through Central America to South America. Similar to Smooth-billed Ani but smaller with a smooth-ridged bill. Gregarious; communal nester. Omnivore following livestock for insects.
African Cuckoo
African Cuckoo (Cuculus gularis) — 32–35 cm. Very similar to Common Cuckoo; grey above; barred below; yellow bill base and orbital ring; long tail. Migratory intra-African breeder across sub-Saharan woodland and savanna. Brood parasite primarily targeting fork-tailed drongos. Insectivore.