Black-billed Cuckoo
NameBlack-billed Cuckoo
Common NameBlack-billed Cuckoo
Scientific NameCoccyzus erythropthalmus
FamilyCuculidae
Wingspan (cm)40.5
Length (cm)29.5
Weight (g)52.5
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are uniformly dull brown, contrasting with clean white underparts. It has a distinctive red eye-ring and a completely black bill. The tail feathers are plain brown with very subtle or no white tips.
Vocalization / CallIts call is a rapid, rhythmic series of 'cu-cu-cu' or 'kow-kow-kow' notes, often accelerating and then slowing down. It can also produce a softer 'coo-coo-coo' sound.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds across eastern and central North America, from southern Canada south to the central and eastern United States. Winters primarily in South America, east of the Andes, from Colombia to northern Argentina.
Identifying Featuresblack bill, red eye-ring, plain brown back, white underparts, lack of white tail spots
Description
The Black-billed Cuckoo is a slender, medium-sized bird with a long tail, typically found in dense deciduous and mixed forests. It is known for its secretive nature and its diet, which heavily features caterpillars, including the hairy species often avoided by other birds.
