Black Coucal vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Centropus grillii comparé à Morococcyx erythropygus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Black Coucal | Lesser Ground-cuckoo |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Centropus grillii | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Ordre | Cuculiformes | Cuculiformes |
| Famille | Cuculidae | Cuculidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 32,0 cm (12.6 in) | 19,8 cm (7.8 in) |
| Poids | 117,66666666666667 g (4.15 oz) | 66,6 g (2.35 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | -- | -- |
| Taille de la couvée | 3-6 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Aucun(e)
Black Coucal only
Lesser Ground-cuckoo only
Aucun(e)
Song & Call Comparison
Black Coucal
Melodic, flute-like phrase with musical quality; clear rich notes cascading pleasantly from Madagascar forest.
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.
Statut de conservation
Black Coucal
Lesser Ground-cuckoo
How to Tell Them Apart
Black Coucal
Brown Coucal: dark brown above; rufous-brown wings; buff below; long brown tail; orange-red eye; brownish plumage; African 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
Black Coucal
Black Coucal (Centropus grillii) — 30–35 cm. Entirely glossy black with chestnut wings in breeding plumage; non-breeding birds streaked brown. Found in tall grass and reed beds across sub-Saharan Africa. Non-parasitic; notable for reverse sex roles — female larger, male incubates and raises young. Insectivore.
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.