Guira Cuckoo

Overview

The guira cuckoo, or pirincho (Guira guira), is a gregarious bird found in open and semi-open habitats across northeastern, eastern, and southern South America. It is the only species in the genus Guira and is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Approximately 34 cm long with dark brown upperparts streaked with white and whitish-buff underparts.
• Features a prominent orange-rufous crest and a relatively long, broad tail that is dark brown with a white tip.
• Yellow to orange eyes and beak surrounded by a thin ring of featherless yellow skin.
• Emits an unmistakable, long, and shrill call described as a mix between a whistle and a wail.

Habitat

Found in open environments such as pastures, wetlands, suburban parks, and gardens throughout northeastern, eastern, and southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and northeastern Argentina. Its range has expanded significantly due to deforestation.

Diet

An opportunistic predator that forages on the ground or among branches for worms, insects, tadpoles, frogs, eggs, small birds, and small mammals like mice. It often hunts in flocks of up to 18 individuals or joins groups of similar birds such as smooth-billed anis.

Did you know?

Unlike many of its Old World cousins, the guira cuckoo does not practice brood parasitism or kleptoparasitism, and it emits a strong, pungent odour.