Guira Cuckoo vs Scale-feathered Malkoha
Guira guira compared with Lepidogrammus cumingi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Guira Cuckoo | Scale-feathered Malkoha |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Guira guira | Lepidogrammus cumingi |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) | 31.6 cm (12.4 in) |
| Weight | 141.73333333333335 g (5.00 oz) | 167.175 g (5.90 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivore of open South American country; eats large insects, small frogs, lizards, and bird eggs. … | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Guira Cuckoo
Loud, gurgling call with hollow quality; distinctive multi-tonal sound carrying across open African savanna.
Scale-feathered Malkoha
Loud, far-carrying whistled call; pure melodic notes resonating through dense tropical forest canopy.
Geographic Range & Migration
Guira Cuckoo
Found in open habitats across South America east of the Andes from Brazil to Argentina. Resident and gregarious.
Scale-feathered Malkoha
Conservation Status
Guira Cuckoo
Scale-feathered Malkoha
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
Scale-feathered Malkoha
Large Green-billed Malkoha: large; green above; pale buff below; very large green bill; bare red facial skin; long green-glossed tail
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.
Scale-feathered Malkoha
Scale-feathered Malkoha (Lepidogrammus cumingi) — 40–45 cm. Unique among malkohas for the male's scaly white-tipped breast feathers; green above; bare red orbital skin. Endemic to the Philippines (Luzon and nearby islands). Inhabits forest and scrub. Non-parasitic. Insectivore.