Jamaican Lizard-Cuckoo
NameJamaican Lizard-Cuckoo
Common NameJamaican Lizard-Cuckoo
Scientific NameCoccyzus vetula
FamilyCuculidae
Wingspan (cm)50
Length (cm)42
Weight (g)120
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are dull grey-brown, contrasting with a white throat and upper breast. The lower breast, belly, and undertail coverts are a striking rufous or cinnamon-brown. It has a prominent red eye-ring and a long, graduated grey tail with white tips on the outer feathers. The bill is long and slender, dark above and paler below.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalizations include a series of guttural, croaking notes, often accelerating into a rapid 'ka-ka-ka-ka-kow-kow-kow' or a harsh 'kwa-kwa-kwa' sound.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeEndemic to the island of Jamaica, found throughout suitable forested habitats.
Identifying FeaturesLong graduated tail with white tips, Rufous belly and undertail coverts, Grey-brown upperparts, White throat and upper breast, Prominent red eye-ring, Long, slender bill
Description
A large, long-tailed cuckoo endemic to Jamaica, characterized by its grey upperparts, white throat, and distinctive rufous underparts. It is an active and often secretive bird, typically found foraging for lizards and large insects in dense forest undergrowth.
