Bird Guide

Lesser Ground Cuckoo

Morococcyx erythropygus

Least ConcernInvertebratesShrublandCup nestMedium · 65 g

About the Lesser Ground Cuckoo

The lesser ground cuckoo is a species of cuckoo in the tribe Neomorphini of subfamily Crotophaginae. It is found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The lesser ground cuckoo is 25 to 28 cm (9.8 to 11 in) long. Males weigh about 58 to 66 g (2.0 to 2.3 oz) and females about 56 to 76 g (2.0 to 2.7 oz). Females are somewhat paler than males but otherwise do not differ. They have a slightly decurved bill with a blackish brown maxilla and an orange mandible. Their face is intricately patterned, with a bright yellow ring around the eye with bare blue skin behind it and thin black lines surrounding the area, a short indistinct whitish stripe above the eye, and cinnamon ocracous cheeks. Voice: The lesser ground cuckoo's song has been described as "a series of 10 or more loud rolling or trilling notes...usually introduced by 2–3 clear, ascending whistles" and as "loud, rich, rolled whistles, suggesting a referee's whistle...prree,...prree,....prree, prree-prree-prreeprree ... prree, prree, prree,....prree,.........prree".

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Lesser Ground Cuckoo lives

Regular range

When to see the Lesser Ground Cuckoo

Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

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