Guira Cuckoo vs Red-billed Malkoha
Guira guira compared with Zanclostomus javanicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Guira Cuckoo | Red-billed Malkoha |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Guira guira | Zanclostomus javanicus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) | 28.8 cm (11.3 in) |
| Weight | 141.73333333333335 g (5.00 oz) | 115.5 g (4.07 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.
Red-billed Malkoha
Sharp, staccato chip note; clean emphatic sound repeated rhythmically from dense tropical scrub habitat.
Geographic Range & Migration
Guira Cuckoo
Found in open habitats across South America east of the Andes from Brazil to Argentina. Resident and gregarious.
Red-billed Malkoha
Conservation Status
Guira Cuckoo
Red-billed 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
Red-billed Malkoha
Olive-capped Coua: olive-green crown; gray body; white below; bare blue facial skin; long graduated tail; Madagascar species; olive cap
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.
Red-billed Malkoha
Red-billed Malkoha (Zanclostomus javanicus) — 38–44 cm. Blue-green above with a rufous belly; bright red bill and bare red orbital skin; long white-tipped tail. Inhabits primary and tall secondary forest of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Java. Non-parasitic. Insectivore feeding on large caterpillars and invertebrates.