Pavonine Cuckoo vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Dromococcyx pavoninus compared with Morococcyx erythropygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pavonine Cuckoo | Lesser Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dromococcyx pavoninus | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 25.6 cm (10.1 in) | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Weight | 47.25 g (1.67 oz) | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Pavonine Cuckoo
Loud, emphatic crowing call with harsh quality; resonant notes carrying well across open tropical forest edge.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Conservation Status
Pavonine Cuckoo
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Pavonine Cuckoo
Lesser Ground-cuckoo: rufous below; brown-barred above; blue orbital ring; long tail; ground-dwelling neotropical cuckoo; yellow eye
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
Pavonine Cuckoo
Pavonine Cuckoo (Dromococcyx pavoninus) — 26–30 cm. Rufous-brown above; barred tail; whitish underparts; bare facial skin. Inhabits humid Amazonian and Atlantic forest understorey from Venezuela south to Argentina. Brood parasite; crepuscular. Insectivore. Resembles Pheasant Cuckoo but smaller with distinctive peacock-eye tail spots when spread.
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.