Guira guira

(Gmelin, 1788)

Vernacular names
English : Guira cuckoo
French : Guira cantara

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Cuculiformes
Family : Cuculidae
Notes : No subspecies known

Identification
Unmistakable species, reaching 42 cm in length for a weight of 168 g. Long tail. Light brown head with yellow bill and eye-ring, conspicuous crest. Dark brown back, wings and tail. Whitish to beige belly and breast with dark streaks.

Range and habitat
This species occurs in South America, from eastern half of Brazil to south Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern half of Argentina. It lives in all kinds of scrublands, savannas, open woodlands, pastures and pampas.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is very common to abundant in most of its range. It has benefited from deforestation and is colonizing new areas in Peru and Bolivia.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation
Dallas World Aquarium (USA), Zoo Antwerpen (Belgium), Parc des Oiseaux (France)

 

Back to “Cuckoos and relatives” page