The Yellow-Billed Cuckoo
The yellow-billed cuckoo. Yep, that’s its real name. Cuckoo! If you look closely, you can see the yellow at the base of the bill. Yellow-billed cuckoos are slender, long-tailed birds with a white belly and white spots on the underside of the tail. They are uncommon in woodlands. Their breeding range includes the states east of the Rockies. We have them in the summer and fall. They spend the winter in South America.
There are two other cuckoos, the black-billed cuckoo and the mangrove cuckoo. The black-billed cuckoo is found farther north. The mangrove cuckoo is in south Florida.
European Cuckoo
Our cuckoo is nothing like the European cuckoo, the one we see in cuckoo clocks brought over from Europe. They are our own American version. The European cuckoo lays its eggs in other birds’ nests and doesn’t raise the young, just like our cowbird. Both are examples of what is called brood or nest parasitism. Our cuckoo is a responsible parent and raises its own young.
What do cuckoos eat?
It loves to eat caterpillars, and whenever the trees are full of fall webworms, cuckoos are there to gobble them up. They can eat as many as a hundred in a meal. The cuckoo in the photo was eating webworms. In fact, the dark spot on its lower belly was a webworm that tried to hide in the feathers. Didn’t work, though. The cuckoo got it.
Cuckoo behavior
Cuckoos are shy birds and are more often heard than seen. A common name for them is “rain crow” because they often call on hot days before a rainstorm. The call is a distinctive series of “ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-kwo–kwo–kwolp—kwolp—kwolp—kwolp” syllables that get slower toward the end.
Our daughter’s wedding was held in a little grove of trees by the pond. Our son, a jazz musician, played the music on his acoustic guitar. His music was accompanied by cuckoo calls. Everyone thought it was planned. Nope, just a coincidence, but a nice touch.
The cuckoo’s habitat is open woodlands, so try to listen for them the next time you go for a walk in the woods. If you happen to see one, you are indeed fortunate.
Read more Nature Notes.
FAQ about the Yellow-billed Cuckoo
What is the scientific name of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo?
The scientific name of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is Coccyzus americanus.
What does the Yellow-billed Cuckoo look like?
Yellow-billed Cuckoos are slender, long-tailed birds measuring about 10.5 to 12.5 inches (26 to 32 cm) in length. They have a distinctive yellow lower mandible, a black upper bill that curves slightly downward, and a brownish upper body with white underparts. Their long tails feature bold white spots on the underside, which are particularly noticeable when they fly or perch[1][2][4].
Where can Yellow-billed Cuckoos be found?
Yellow-billed Cuckoos are found throughout North, Central, and South America. They migrate to North America during the summer months and winter in South America. In North America, they prefer open woodlands, dense thickets, and riparian habitats along streams[2][3][4].
What do Yellow-billed Cuckoos eat?
Their diet primarily consists of large insects such as hairy caterpillars and cicadas, but they also consume bird eggs, snails, small frogs, lizards, berries, and some fruits. They are known for their ability to eat hairy caterpillars that many other birds avoid.
How do Yellow-billed Cuckoos reproduce?
Yellow-billed Cuckoos typically mate from mid-April through mid-September, with peak activity in May. They build flimsy saucer-shaped nests made of twigs and leaves about 4 to 8 feet (1 to 2.5 m) above the ground. The female lays two to four eggs, which hatch in 9 to 11 days. The chicks are altricial at birth and can climb branches within a week and fly within three weeks.
Are Yellow-billed Cuckoos migratory?
Yes, they are long-distance migrants. They arrive in North America late in spring and depart early in fall, with some individuals traveling as far as Argentina for wintering.
What is their conservation status?
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is currently listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN; however, populations have declined significantly in some areas due to habitat loss and degradation. Conservation efforts focus on preserving their breeding and wintering habitats.
What are their calls like?
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is known for its distinctive calls, which include a series of knocking sounds and a soft cooing. Their vocalizations can be heard during both day and night, especially during the breeding season.
How do they contribute to their ecosystem?
As insectivores, Yellow-billed Cuckoos play a crucial role in controlling insect populations. Their feeding habits help maintain ecological balance within their habitats.
