Guira Cuckoo vs Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo
Guira guira compared with Hierococcyx vagans
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Guira Cuckoo | Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Guira guira | Hierococcyx vagans |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) | 29.4 cm (11.6 in) |
| Weight | 141.73333333333335 g (5.00 oz) | 58.2 g (2.05 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.
Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo
Loud, raucous accelerating call; harsh notes building quickly in urgency given from forest perch. 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.
Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo
Conservation Status
Guira Cuckoo
Moustached 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
Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo
Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo: brown above; white below with rufous barring; moustachial stripe; hawk-like barred pattern; yellow eye-ring
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.
Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo
Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx vagans) — 28–31 cm. Hawk-like; brown above; pale below with rufous-streaked breast; bold moustachial stripe; barred tail. Inhabits hill forest of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Brood parasite; mimics Accipiter sparrowhawks. Insectivore.