Guira Cuckoo vs Large Hawk-Cuckoo
Guira guira compared with Hierococcyx sparverioides
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Guira Cuckoo | Large Hawk-Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Guira guira | Hierococcyx sparverioides |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) | 47.0 cm (18.5 in) |
| Weight | 141.73333333333335 g (5.00 oz) | 144.75 g (5.11 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivore of open South American country; eats large insects, small frogs, lizards, and bird eggs. … | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Guira Cuckoo
Loud, gurgling call with hollow quality; distinctive multi-tonal sound carrying across open African savanna.
Large Hawk-Cuckoo
Loud, far-carrying call; powerful resonant notes carrying across dense forest in South Asia. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Geographic Range & Migration
Guira Cuckoo
Found in open habitats across South America east of the Andes from Brazil to Argentina. Resident and gregarious.
Large Hawk-Cuckoo
Conservation Status
Guira Cuckoo
Large Hawk-Cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Guira Cuckoo
Broad-billed Bronze-cuckoo: bronze-green above; broadly barred white below; wide bars; reddish eye; Australian bronze cuckoo
Large Hawk-Cuckoo
Large Hawk-Cuckoo: gray-brown above; white below with rufous streaking; hawk-like; long tail; yellow eye-ring; large size; streaked
About These Birds
Guira Cuckoo
A distinctive, socially gregarious cuckoo (36-42 cm) found in open habitats across South America east of the Andes. Shaggy orange-rufous crest, streaked plumage, and long tail. Omnivore, feeding on insects, small vertebrates, and eggs. Often seen in noisy family groups.
Large Hawk-Cuckoo
Large Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx sparverioides) — 38–42 cm. The largest hawk-cuckoo; grey above; whitish below with heavy rufous streaking; barred tail. Inhabits forest and forest edge from the Himalayas through Southeast Asia and China. Migratory. Brood parasite. Insectivore. Famous for its 'brain-fever' call accelerating to a frenzied pitch.