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Guira Cuckoo

Scientific Name

Guira guira

Class

Aves

Order

Cuculiformes

Range

Southeastern South America

Habitat

Second-growth scrub, drier tree and scrub savannas, scrub woodlands, pampas, pastures, and coastal dunes

Estimated Wild Population

n/a

Found in:

McCormick Bird House

More Information

Guira cuckoos have dark brown, white-striped wings; a long white-tipped tail; and spiky crest feathers. They bear some resemblance to the iconic roadrunner, another member of the cuckoo family. Highly social, these bird are often seen in flocks of six to 20 individuals. They prey on frogs, eggs, insects, and even small mammals, including chicks of other bird species.

Did You Know?

Guira cuckoos breed communally, with several females from a flock laying up to 20 eggs in a single nest.

Due to aggressive competition between parents within the same nest, only one-fourth of eggs survive to fledging.

During courtship dances, these birds spread and raise their crest and tail to display their patterned plumage.

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