Dark Hawk-Cuckoo vs Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo

Hierococcyx bocki compared with Neomorphus geoffroyi

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Dark Hawk-Cuckoo Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo
Scientific Name Hierococcyx bocki Neomorphus geoffroyi
Order Cuculiformes Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae Cuculidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Vulnerable
Length
Wingspan 35.9 cm (14.1 in) 33.0 cm (13.0 in)
Weight 137.0 g (4.83 oz) 350.2 g (12.35 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size -- 1-2
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo only

None

Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo only

None

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Song & Call Comparison

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

Song

Loud, raucous call with harsh quality; penetrating notes carrying through dense forest in South Asia.

Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo

Song

Deep, hollow booming call; resonant bass notes carrying surprisingly far across dense tropical forest floor.

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

Vulnerable

Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo

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How to Tell Them Apart

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

Plumage

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo: dark brown above; pale below with dense dark barring; hawk-like; long barred tail; yellow orbital ring; dark morph

Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo

Plumage

Scaled Ground-cuckoo: pale buff below with dark scaling; brown above; blue orbital skin; long tail; banded underparts; runs on ground

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About These Birds

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx bocki) — 28–31 cm. Dark grey above; pale below with darker streaking; barred tail. Restricted to montane forest of the Malay Peninsula. Brood parasite. Insectivore. Rare; poorly documented.

Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo

Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo (Neomorphus geoffroyi) — 46–50 cm. Bronzy-brown above; buff below; rufous vent; bare blue facial skin; decurved bill. Inhabits humid lowland forest from Mexico to South America. Non-parasitic; follows army ant swarms to catch flushed prey. Rare and secretive. Insectivore.

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