Lesser Ground-cuckoo vs Striped Cuckoo
Morococcyx erythropygus compared with Tapera naevia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lesser Ground-cuckoo | Striped Cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Morococcyx erythropygus | Tapera naevia |
| Order | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Family | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 19.8 cm (7.8 in) | 21.2 cm (8.3 in) |
| Weight | 66.6 g (2.35 oz) | 49.980000000000004 g (1.76 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Insectivore specialising in hairy caterpillars rejected by other birds. Also takes beetles, grasshoppers, and small … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Song & Call Comparison
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Striped Cuckoo
Loud, raucous cackle with harsh quality; penetrating notes carrying well across open grassland and scrub.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Striped Cuckoo
Found in grasslands and open habitats from Mexico through Central and South America to Argentina. Resident.
Conservation Status
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Striped 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
Striped Cuckoo
Little Bronze-cuckoo (alt): small bronze-green cuckoo; barred white below; red eye; golden-bronze iridescence; typical bronze-cuckoo
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.
Striped Cuckoo
A medium-sized cuckoo (28-30 cm) found in grasslands and open habitats from Mexico through Central and South America. Brown-streaked plumage with a distinctive rufous cap and long tail. A brood parasite, laying eggs in the nests of other bird species, particularly ovenbirds.