Photo: Joseph Smit / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Banded Ground Cuckoo
Neomorphus radiolosus
Banded Ground Cuckoo (Neomorphus radiolosus) — Cuckoos & Turacos of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Banded Ground Cuckoo (Neomorphus radiolosus) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 399 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Cuculiformes
- Family Cuculidae Cuckoos
- Genus Neomorphus
- Species radiolosus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 399 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Banded Ground Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Banded Ground Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Banded Ground Cuckoo (Neomorphus radiolosus) is a member of the Cuculidae family, within the order Cuculiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA sw Colombia and nw Ecuador.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 399 g, with a wing length of about 15.2 cm and a tail of around 23.4 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 18,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Banded Ground Cuckoo?
The Banded Ground Cuckoo is a large bird that weighs around 399 g.
Where does the Banded Ground Cuckoo live?
The Banded Ground Cuckoo is found across South America with a range covering SA sw Colombia and nw Ecuador, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Banded Ground Cuckoo belong to?
The Banded Ground Cuckoo (Neomorphus radiolosus) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Banded Ground Cuckoo eat?
The Banded Ground Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Banded Ground Cuckoo migrate?
The Banded Ground Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Banded Ground Cuckoo endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Banded Ground Cuckoo make?
1 real field recording of the Banded Ground Cuckoo — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Banded Ground Cuckoo's range?
The Banded Ground Cuckoo has a mapped global range of about 18,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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