Common Hawk-Cuckoo vs Lesser Ground-cuckoo

Hierococcyx varius comparé à Morococcyx erythropygus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Common Hawk-Cuckoo Lesser Ground-cuckoo
Nom scientifique Hierococcyx varius Morococcyx erythropygus
Ordre Cuculiformes Cuculiformes
Famille Cuculidae Cuculidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 38,2 cm (15.0 in) 19,8 cm (7.8 in)
Poids 101,5 g (3.58 oz) 66,6 g (2.35 oz)
Régime alimentaire -- --
Taille de la couvée 2 2
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Aucun(e)

Common Hawk-Cuckoo only

Lesser Ground-cuckoo only

Aucun(e)

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Song & Call Comparison

Common Hawk-Cuckoo

Chant

Loud, raucous call with harsh quality; penetrating far-carrying notes given from forest canopy. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.

Lesser Ground-cuckoo

Chant

Soft, ventriloquial whistled phrase; clear pure notes given quietly and deceptively from dense tropical thicket.

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Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Common Hawk-Cuckoo

Least Concern

Lesser Ground-cuckoo

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How to Tell Them Apart

Common Hawk-Cuckoo

Plumage

Common Hawk-Cuckoo: gray above; white below with rufous barring; hawk-mimic; long barred tail; yellow eye-ring; brain-fever bird

Lesser Ground-cuckoo

Plumage

Greater Roadrunner: boldly streaked brown above; white-cream below with dark streaks; long tail; shaggy crest; bare facial skin; fast runner

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About These Birds

Common Hawk-Cuckoo

Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) — 34–38 cm. Grey above; pale below with rufous streaking; hawk-like flight; barred tail. Widespread across the Indian subcontinent in forest, woodland, and plantation. Brood parasite targeting babblers. Insectivore. Its frantic rising call of 'brain-fever' is iconic in South Asian soundscapes.

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.

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