Indian Cuckoo vs Scaled Ground-Cuckoo

Cuculus micropterus compared with Neomorphus squamiger

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Indian Cuckoo Scaled Ground-Cuckoo
Scientific Name Cuculus micropterus Neomorphus squamiger
Order Cuculiformes Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae Cuculidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Not Evaluated
Length
Wingspan 39.3 cm (15.5 in)
Weight 120.5 g (4.25 oz) 340.0 g (11.99 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size -- --
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Indian Cuckoo only

None

Scaled Ground-Cuckoo only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Indian Cuckoo

Song

Loud, far-carrying raucous call; harsh penetrating notes given from tall dense forest canopy. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.

Scaled Ground-Cuckoo

Song

Deep, hollow booming call; resonant bass notes carrying far across dense humid tropical forest floor.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Indian Cuckoo

Not Evaluated

Scaled Ground-Cuckoo

How to Tell Them Apart

Indian Cuckoo

Plumage

Indian Cuckoo: gray above; white below with bold dark barring; four-note call; long dark tail; yellow eye-ring; common Asian species

Scaled Ground-Cuckoo

About These Birds

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.

Scaled Ground-Cuckoo

Scaled Ground-Cuckoo (Neomorphus squamiger) — 45–48 cm. Bronze-olive above; scaled white-tipped breast; rufous flanks; bare blue orbital ring. Restricted to humid eastern Amazonian forest in Pará, Brazil. Non-parasitic; follows army ants. Insectivore. Vulnerable; small range threatened by deforestation.

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family