Lesser Ground-cuckoo vs Philippine Drongo-cuckoo
Morococcyx erythropygus compared with Surniculus velutinus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lesser Ground-cuckoo | Philippine Drongo-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Morococcyx erythropygus | Surniculus velutinus |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) | 22.2 cm (8.7 in) |
| Weight | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) | 38.480000000000004 g (1.36 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| 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.
Philippine Drongo-cuckoo
Sharp, penetrating whistle; clear emphatic notes carrying through dense forest in Philippines. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Conservation Status
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Philippine Drongo-cuckoo
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
Philippine Drongo-cuckoo
Philippine Drongo-cuckoo: glossy black overall; forked tail; drongo-like appearance; pale tip tail; red eye; Philippine endemic
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.
Philippine Drongo-cuckoo
Philippine Drongo-cuckoo (Surniculus velutinus) — 23–27 cm. Glossy blue-black with white barring on the vent; mimics the forked tail of drongos to deceive hosts; long notched tail. Endemic to the Philippines in forest and forest edge. Brood parasite targeting monarch-flycatchers. Insectivore.