Black-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Slender, long-tailed bird more often heard than seen. White below and brown above, with black bill. Separated from Yellow-billed Cuckoo by bill color, uniformly brown outer wings (not rufous) and smaller white spots on underside of tail. Feeds mainly on caterpillars and other insects. Found mostly in deciduous woodlands, especially areas with thick secondary growth. Often sits motionless for long periods of time and is difficult to spot. Listen for its song, a repeated series of soft "cu-cu-cu" notes.
Identification
Adults have a long, graduated brown tail and a black, slightly downcurved bill. The head and upper parts are brown and the underparts are white. The feet are zygodactylous. Juveniles are drabber and may contain some rufous coloration on the wing. The adults have a narrow, red orbital ring while the juveniles' is yellow. Black-billed cuckoo chicks have white, sparsely-distributed, sheath-like down that contrasts heavily with their black skin. They also have complex, creamy-colored structures on their mouth and tongue, which may appear like warts or some type of parasitic infection however they are normal for the species.
Taxonomy
The black-billed cuckoo was originally placed in the genus Cuculus. This genus comprises Old World cuckoos that are all obligate brood parasites. Upon further genetic testing, it was placed into the genus Coccyzus that comprises nine species of New World cuckoos. The black-billed and yellow-billed cuckoos are the only two that migrate into North America while the other seven are permanent residents of either Central or South America. Even though these two cuckoos overlap in range, they are not sister taxa. This suggests that the two species invaded North America separately. Although the family Cuculidae is monophyletic, the genus Coccyzus was found to be polyphyletic.
- Scientific name
- Coccyzus erythropthalmus
- Authority
- (Wilson, A, 1811)
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Genus
- Coccyzus
Range and habitat
C. erythropthalmus may be found in a variety of habitats. They are most commonly found around the edges of mature deciduous or mixed forests and much less frequently in coniferous forests. They can also be found in much younger-growth forests with a lot of shrubs and thickets. Wetlands with a lot of alder and willow are another prime location to see them. Lastly, they can also inhabit more open areas such as abandoned farmland, golf courses, and residential parks. Whatever the habitat may be, they are usually quite well hidden and tend to stick to the edges of these habitats. The chosen habitat must also have a water source nearby such as a lake, river, marsh, or pond. On their wintering grounds in South America, they can inhabit tropical rainforests, deciduous or semi open woodlands as well as scrub forests. When breeding, the species is distributed in wooded areas across much of the United States, east of the Rockies. Their range just barely extends into North Carolina, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. They are not present to the south of those states when breeding. They can also be found in the southern regions of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. Furthermore, they are also present in the maritime provinces of Prince Edward Island, eastern New Brunswick, and western Nova Scotia. When migrating in spring and fall, they can also be seen in southern United States as well as all of Central America. They migrate to northwestern South America in the fall, where they will spend the winter. Although they are mainly an eastern North American species, there have been confirmed reports of sighting in British Columbia, Washington, and California. The species is also a rare vagrant to western Europe and Greenland.
- Breeding range
- NA : sc, se Canada and c, e USA
- Non-breeding range
- nw SA
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Elegant seabird with extremely long wings and forked tail. Adults are pale gray with white cheek, black cap, and red bill and legs. Very similar to Common Tern; note shorter bill, shorter legs, gray belly, and paler gray wingtips with very limited dark tips. Young birds show partial black cap and black bill and legs; look for pale gray wingtips and stubbier legs to separate from Common Tern. Rarely seen away from breeding grounds on coastal islands or small ponds in the Arctic tundra. Migrates offshore, heading for wintering grounds in Southern Hemisphere.
Black-faced Canary
Crithagra capistrata
Small seedeater with a conical bill and forked tail. The upperparts are olive-green and the underparts pale yellow. Both sexes have a strong yellow eyebrow. Males have a clean black face patch, and females strong streaking on the underparts. Found in miombo and other moist savanna, forest edge, and cultivation. The song consists of higher introductory notes followed by lower rattling trills. Similar to Western Citril, but has a shorter and less pointed bill. Males also have a slightly larger black face patch that is more cleanly defined, and females have more streaking below.
Polynesian Imperial-Pigeon
Ducula aurorae
A large pigeon with a mostly gray body, darker gray wings, and a distinctive and diagnostic black fleshy knob above the bill. Prefers dense forest, where it is often seen flying over the canopy. Voice poorly known, but has been heard giving deep gurgling, cooing calls typical of pigeons.
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