Gray-capped Cuckoo
NameGray-capped Cuckoo
Common NameGray-capped Cuckoo
Scientific NameCoccyzus cinereus
FamilyCuculidae
Wingspan (cm)32.5
Length (cm)26.5
Weight (g)47.5
Plumage DetailsAdults have a prominent gray cap, olive-brown back and wings, and white to pale gray underparts. The long tail is dark with white tips on the outer rectrices, and the bill is bicolored, dark on the upper mandible and yellow or orange on the lower.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalizations typically consist of soft, cooing notes or a rapid, churring call, often less conspicuous than other cuckoo species.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, wetland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound across much of South America, primarily within the Amazon basin and surrounding regions, including parts of Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas. It is a migratory species, breeding in the southern parts of its range and moving north during the non-breeding season.
Identifying Featuresgray cap, pale underparts, olive-brown back, long tail with white tips, bicolored bill (dark upper, yellow/orange lower)
Description
The Gray-capped Cuckoo is a medium-sized cuckoo characterized by its distinctive gray cap and pale underparts. It is a shy bird, often found foraging for insects in dense vegetation and forest edges throughout its South American range.
