Groove-billed Ani vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Crotophaga sulcirostris compared with Morococcyx erythropygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Groove-billed Ani | Lesser Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Crotophaga sulcirostris | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 25.9 cm (10.2 in) | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Weight | 80.3 g (2.83 oz) | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) |
| Diet | Insectivore of open country; eats grasshoppers, beetles, and hairy caterpillars. Forages near grazing animals that … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-4 | 2 |
| 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.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Geographic Range & Migration
Groove-billed Ani
Found from southern Texas through Central America to South America. Resident in open country and agricultural areas.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Conservation Status
Groove-billed Ani
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Groove-billed Ani
New Caledonian Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; barred white below; island endemic; red eye; iridescent bronze-green; small size
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
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.
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.