Andaman Coucal vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Centropus andamanensis compared with Morococcyx erythropygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andaman Coucal | Lesser Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Centropus andamanensis | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.5 cm (13.6 in) | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Weight | 199.0 g (7.02 oz) | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Andaman Coucal only
Lesser Ground-cuckoo only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Andaman Coucal
Melodic, whistled phrase with clear quality; pure resonant notes carrying across African woodland habitat.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Conservation Status
Andaman Coucal
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Andaman Coucal
Chinese Coucal: dark brown above; rufous wings; pale buff below; long dark tail; red eye; streaked in winter plumage; Asian species
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
Andaman Coucal
Andaman Coucal (Centropus andamanensis) — 42–47 cm. Chestnut back and wings; black head and underparts; long graduated tail. Endemic to the Andaman Islands, India, in forest and scrub. Non-parasitic. Omnivore. Previously treated as a subspecies of Greater Coucal.
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.