Guira Cuckoo vs Chestnut-breasted Malkoha
Guira guira compared with Phaenicophaeus curvirostris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Guira Cuckoo | Chestnut-breasted Malkoha |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Guira guira | Phaenicophaeus curvirostris |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) | 32.9 cm (13.0 in) |
| Weight | 141.73333333333335 g (5.00 oz) | 151.525 g (5.34 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.
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha
Loud, far-carrying plaintive call; pure resonant notes carrying through open dry scrub habitat. 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.
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha
Conservation Status
Guira Cuckoo
Chestnut-breasted 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
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha
Coquerel's Coua: olive-gray above; rufous-buff below; bare blue facial skin; long white-tipped tail; Madagascar dry forest cuckoo
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.
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris) — 44–50 cm. Dark green above; chestnut breast; whitish belly; decurved green bill; bare red orbital skin; long white-tipped tail. Widespread in lowland forest and mangroves from the Malay Peninsula to the Philippines. Non-parasitic. Insectivore; specialises in large caterpillars.