Lesser Ground Cuckoo

The lesser ground cuckoo, Morococcyx erythropygus, is a distinctive bird with a length ranging from 25 to 28 cm. Males typically weigh between 58 to 66 grams, while females are slightly heavier, ranging from 56 to 76 grams. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females being somewhat paler than their male counterparts. They possess a slightly decurved bill, a blackish brown maxilla, and an orange mandible. Their facial features are quite intricate, including a bright yellow eye ring, bare blue skin behind it, and thin black lines that frame the area. Above the eye lies a short, indistinct whitish stripe, and the cheeks are a cinnamon ochraceous hue.

Identification Tips

Adults of the nominate subspecies have a grayish brown crown, olive brown nape and back, and a sooty blackish lower back and rump. Their tail is primarily olive brown with a purplish bronze gloss and buff to whitish tips on the upper side, while the underside is light grayish brown with dull blackish bands near the end of the outer feathers. The underparts are a consistent cinnamon ochraceous from chin to vent. Immature birds are similar but duller, lacking the pale tips and blackish bands on the tail.

Habitat

The lesser ground cuckoo is found in a variety of semi-arid to arid landscapes, including the interiors and edges of woodlands, thorn forests, secondary forests, and savannas. In southwestern Mexico, they are almost exclusively associated with thorn forests.

Distribution

The species is distributed from southern Mexico through Central America, inhabiting countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. The subspecies M. e. mexicanus is found on the Pacific slope of western Mexico between Sinaloa and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

Behaviour

This cuckoo is a year-round resident within its range, showing no migratory behavior.

Song & Calls

The lesser ground cuckoo's vocal repertoire includes a series of loud rolling or trilling notes, often preceded by two to three clear, ascending whistles. Its song is reminiscent of a referee's whistle, with loud, rich, rolled whistles. Additionally, it emits a clear whistle, "teeeee," and a rough, growling "ghaaaoow."

Breeding

Breeding seasons for the lesser ground cuckoo vary geographically and are not fully understood. In Costa Rica, the breeding season spans from February to May, while in Mexico, it includes May and June. The species constructs a shallow bowl nest of sticks or leaves on the ground. Both parents partake in incubating the clutch of two eggs, though the incubation period and time to fledging remain unknown.

Diet and Feeding

The lesser ground cuckoo primarily feeds on insects, which it captures while walking on the ground or by making short leaps to pick them from vegetation. Specific details of its diet are not well documented.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the lesser ground cuckoo as Least Concern. It boasts a very large range and an estimated population of 50,000 to 500,000 mature individuals. Although the population is believed to be decreasing, no immediate threats have been identified for this species.