Coccyzus americanus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular names
English : Yellow-billed cuckoo
French : Coulicou à bec jaune

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Cuculiformes
Family : Cuculidae
Notes : No subspecies known

Identification
Adults can grow up to 30 cm in length for a weight of 68 g. Long and slightly curved yellow bill with black culmen. Yellow eye-ring. Plumage is dull brown to olive-brown except from pure white throat, chin and belly. Tail is graduated.

Range and habitat
The species breeds from south East Canada and eastern half of USA to north Mexico and Caribbean Islands. Winters in northern half of South America. It lives in open forests and woodlands, swamps. Also tropical forests up to 4200 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species remains fairly common to numerous in parts of its range but has declined in western half of USA because of loss of forested habitat.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation
Kathy Rogers Wildlife Rehab center (USA)

 

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