Lesser Ground-cuckoo vs Raffles's Malkoha
Morococcyx erythropygus compared with Rhinortha chlorophaea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lesser Ground-cuckoo | Raffles's Malkoha |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Morococcyx erythropygus | Rhinortha chlorophaea |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) | 23.6 cm (9.3 in) |
| Weight | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) | 52.5 g (1.85 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Raffles's Malkoha
Loud, far-carrying resonant call; deep powerful notes audible through dense forest in Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Raffles's Malkoha
How to Tell Them Apart
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Greater Roadrunner: boldly streaked brown above; white-cream below with dark streaks; long tail; shaggy crest; bare facial skin; fast runner
Raffles's Malkoha
Crested Coua: blue-gray body; white below; brilliant blue and red bare facial skin; long tail white-tipped; Madagascar forest species
About These Birds
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.
Raffles's Malkoha
Raffles's Malkoha (Rhinortha chlorophaea) — 30–35 cm. Slender; rufous above with green gloss; pale grey below; long white-tipped tail; red bill and orbital skin. Inhabits primary and tall secondary forest of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Non-parasitic; forages in the mid-storey. Insectivore; eats caterpillars and large insects.