AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN LCInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Least Concern — widespread and abundant; not at immediate risk of extinction.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Morococcyx erythropygus
Lesser Ground-Cuckoo
(Lesson, 1842)
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
A small, elegant terrestrial cuckoo with a slender body. It features olive-brown upperparts, an unstreaked rufous-buff breast and belly, and a long, graduated dark tail with pale tips. Its most striking diagnostic feature is a vibrant, colorful ring of bare skin around the eye, displaying bright blue and lemon-yellow hues, bordered by a black line.
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Anonymous Curator
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Under Review
Last modified by
Julia Trouin
TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Chordata
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Aves
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Cuculiformes
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Cuculidae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Morococcyx
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.(Lesson, 1842)
Record Completeness
95%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Native
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Stable
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
Year Round
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Carnivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
Inhabits arid and semi-arid environments, particularly tropical dry forests, dense secondary scrub, deciduous woodlands, and thickets along the Pacific slope of Mesoamerica. It is rarely seen far from dense undergrowth or tangled edge habitats.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
Primarily terrestrial, preferring to walk, run, or hop swiftly along the ground rather than take flight. When startled, it flies only a very short distance into dense foliage before dropping back down. Its song is a series of low, mournful, descending whistles that mimic a musical trill.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
Typically encountered alone or in pairs. It maintains a low profile and rarely associates with mixed-species foraging flocks. Pairs communicate using soft contact calls and territorial duets during the early wet season.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Terrestrial carnivore.Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
Forages exclusively on the ground, searching through dead leaves for beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, and spiders, occasionally capturing small lizards. It is preyed upon by forest falcons, roadkills, snakes, and small mammalian carnivores.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
Monogamous breeder. The nest is a shallow, well-concealed cup built of twigs and lined with dry leaves, placed directly on the ground or in low vegetation under thick cover. The female lays 2 to 3 chalky white eggs, and both parents share incubation and chick rearing duties.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
22.0 - 28.0 cm
Weight (Grams)
60 g - 72 g
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.2 - 3
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).No
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
10 - 12 Months
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
14 - 16
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males4 - 7 Years
Females4 - 7 Years
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
Long, powerful legs and strong feet adapted for running rapidly through dry leaf litter and over rocky soils, allowing it to easily outrun ground predators.
Olive and brownish dorsal plumage provides exceptional camouflage that mimics dry leaves and soil, allowing it to hide effectively simply by crouching motionlessly.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Widespread destruction and clearing of tropical dry forests for agricultural expansion and cattle ranching, which completely destroys its specialized understory nesting habitat.
High vulnerability to introduced ground predators, such as feral cats and dogs, because it nests and spends the majority of its life cycle directly on the forest floor.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
Unlike many Old World and Neotropical cuckoos, this species is completely non-parasitic; pairs build their own nests on the ground and diligently raise their own chicks.