Guira Cuckoo Guira guira
Class: Aves Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae
Characteristics: The guira cuckoo is a medium sized bird at 13 inches in length. Their average weight however is only 1/3 of a pound. (Encyclopedia of Life) The underparts and rump are a light tan or whitish color. The broad, long tail is a much darker brown. They have a crest of feathers on the head that are an orange-rufous color on top of yellow colored skin. The bill of this cuckoo is orange-yellow and heavy looking. The guira cuckoo is a fairly shaggy looking bird. (Jacksonville Zoo)
Behavior: The guira cuckoo is a very social bird, living in groups of 6-8 Range & Habitat: individuals. They can sometimes be seen in flocks of over 20 birds. Found commonly in open and (Cornell) These cuckoos are very noisy and have a variety of calls. They semi-open habitats of eastern and generally are found feeding on the ground as they are not strong fliers. southern Brazil, Uruguay, (Encyclopedia of Life) Paraguay, Bolivia, and north-
Reproduction: The guira cuckoo is a non-parasitic species of cuckoo, but eastern Argentina. still has a strange nesting behavior. They will build a large, communal nest about 15 feet from the ground. Females will lay 5-7 green eggs in the nest. There may be up to 20 eggs in one shared nest. (Beauty of Birds) Within the shared nest, there is much competition and only about one quarter of the young survive to fledging. (Cornell) When other adults are not around, the cuckoo parent will push eggs or even chicks from the nest to decrease competition. (Jacksonville Zoo) The young cuckoos that survive will leave the nest at 15 days of age. (Saint Louis Zoo)
Diet: Wild: Frogs, eggs, large insects, and small mammals (National Aviary) Lifespan: estimated 9-10 years in Zoo: Parrot pellet, softbill diet, dog food, crickets, mealworms, meat, captivity, unknown in the wild. pinkies, and eggs
Special Adaptations: The guira Conservation: The IUCN Redlist of endangered species lists the cuckoo as cuckoo has a foot with 2 toes least concern. In fact, it is believed that the cuckoo population is on the forward and 2 back that allows it rise. The cuckoo is very common in its expansive range. to run on the ground and climb tree trunks with ease. FYI: They are in the same family as the roadrunner. (Cincinnati Zoo) This cuckoo may appear large, but weighs only slightly more than one stick of IUCN Conservation Status: butter. Least Concern