Common Hawk-Cuckoo vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Hierococcyx varius compared with Morococcyx erythropygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Common Hawk-Cuckoo | Lesser Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hierococcyx varius | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 38.2 cm (15.0 in) | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Weight | 101.5 g (3.58 oz) | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Common Hawk-Cuckoo
Loud, raucous call with harsh quality; penetrating far-carrying notes given from forest canopy. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Conservation Status
Common Hawk-Cuckoo
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Hawk-Cuckoo
Common Hawk-Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; hawk-mimic; long barred tail; yellow eye-ring; brain-fever bird
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Greater Roadrunner: boldly streaked brown above; white-cream below with dark streaks; long tail; shaggy crest; bare facial skin; fast runner
About These Birds
Common Hawk-Cuckoo
Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) — 34–38 cm. Grey above; pale below with rufous streaking; hawk-like flight; barred tail. Widespread across the Indian subcontinent in forest, woodland, and plantation. Brood parasite targeting babblers. Insectivore. Its frantic rising call of 'brain-fever' is iconic in South Asian soundscapes.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Lesser Ground-cuckoo (Morococcyx erythropygus) — 28 cm. Brown above; chestnut rump; whitish underparts; bare blue orbital skin. Inhabits dry and semi-arid scrub from Mexico to Costa Rica. Non-parasitic; builds its own nest in low shrubs. Runs on the ground hunting large insects, lizards, and amphibians. Monotypic genus endemic to Mesoamerica.