bill

Bird Name
English name: Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Scientific (Latin) name: Coccyzus americanus

Appearance
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is a fairly large bird with a long body and long tail. Its upper body exhibits a somewhat silver-grey appearance mixed with a brownish hue. The underparts are a delicate combination of white and cream. The bird owes its name to its bill, which is brownish-black on the top, and prominently yellow beneath. Its eyes exhibit a faintly red hue, further distinguishing this species. The wings are short and rounded, showcasing an intriguing pattern of white spots on the dark feathers when spread. There’s a little difference between males and females, other than females sometimes being slightly larger.

Size
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is approximately 30 to 34cm in length, with a wingspan that ranges about 43cm. This species weighs between 60 to 113g.

Habitat & Distribution
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is found in North, Central, and South America, with its distribution stretching from Canada to Argentina. They prefer habitats that are near water bodies such as streams or wetlands and are commonly found in woodlands, particularly those with an understory of shrubs.

Interesting Facts
1. Unlike most other bird species, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo often lays its eggs while the previous ones are still being incubated.
2. They are often referred to as “rain crows” because they tend to be more vocal just before a thunderstorm.
3. Their diet consists largely of caterpillars, especially the dreaded tent caterpillars which they are able to detect even when hidden.

Diet
Their preferred diet is caterpillars, but also eat other large insects, small birds, eggs, and berries.

Behavior & Sounds
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is famed for its stunning agility when capturing prey. It possesses an arsenal of differing calls, ranging from soft cooing sounds when courting, to harsh ‘kak-kak-kak’ sounds when endangered.

Conservation Status
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN due to habitat loss and degradation.

Lifespan
In the wild, they typically live for about 5-6 years. However, in captivity, their lifespan can extend up to 10 years.

Additional Notes
In Spanish languages within its range, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is often referred to as “Cuclillo Piquigualdo”. Yellow-billed Cuckoos are fairly secretive, spending most of their time hidden in dense foliage, making their presence more often heard than seen. They have the ability to control their body temperature in hot weather by “gular fluttering” – a panting behavior where they vibrate the floor of their mouth. They play an essential pest control role in ecosystems, thanks to their predacious behavior on caterpillars and other insects. Their presence or absence is often a reliable indicator of the health of local habitats.