Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo
Coccyzus pluvialis
A large species with an impressive tail and a chestnut belly. Found in wooded habitats between 400 and 1500 meters in elevation, particularly wet, open forests; stalks prey by walking and sometimes running along tree limbs. Flight is often a rapid flapping followed by long glide. The Jamaican Lizard-Cuckoo is similar in overall shape, but it is somewhat smaller, has a longer straighter bill, and a buff (not chestnut) belly. This species is often heard before it is seen. Call is a low, harsh, growling “aahhhh” or “aahhhh-ahh.”
识别特征
The chestnut-bellied cuckoo is 48 to 56 cm (19 to 22 in) long, about half of which is the tail, and weighs 130 to 189 g (4.6 to 6.7 oz). The species' blackish bill is stout and decurved. Males and females have the same plumage. Adults have dull brown upperparts, a light gray face and breast with a paler throat, and a dark rufous belly. Their tail is black with large white tips and a purple gloss. Juveniles have a dark brown tail with white tips but no gloss.
分类信息
The chestnut-bellied cuckoo was formally described in 1788 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with all the other cuckoos in the genus Cuculus and coined the binomial name Cuculus pluvialis. Gmelin based his account on those of earlier authors include that of the Irish physician, naturalist and collector Hans Sloane. Between 1687 and 1689 Sloane lived in Jamaica. In the account of his stay, which was not published until 1725, he described the chestnut-bellied cuckoo under the names "Old-Man" and "Raine-bird" and explained that "It makes a noise generally before rain, whence it had its name of Rain Bird". The chestnut-bellied cuckoo is now placed with 12 other species in the genus Coccyzus that was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot. The genus name is from the Ancient Greek kokkuzō meaning "to cry cuckoo". The specific epithet pluvialis is Latin meaning "relating to rain". <p>The chestnut-bellied cuckoo was at one time placed in genus Piaya which was later merged into genus Hyetornis. That genus was in turn merged into the current Coccyzus. The species is monotypic.
- 学名
- Coccyzus pluvialis
- 命名信息
- (Gmelin, JF, 1788)
- 目
- Cuculiformes
- 科
- Cuculidae
- 属
- Coccyzus
分布与栖息地
The chestnut-bellied cuckoo is found throughout most of Jamaica. It inhabits mature evergreen forest, secondary forest, thickets and brushy areas, and semi-open woodlands. In elevation it ranges from sea level to above 1,500 m (4,900 ft).
- 迁徙
- Vertical migration
行为
The chestnut-bellied cuckoo moves to the lower elevations of its range during winter.<p>The chestnut-bellied cuckoo has a varied diet that includes adult insects, caterpillars, lizards, nestling birds, and eggs. It forages mostly from the forest mid-story to the canopy, running along branches and gliding from tree to tree. It usually forages alone.<p>The chestnut-bellied cuckoo's breeding season is usually between March and June but may start in February. It makes a shallow twig nest in a tree at up to 10 m (30 ft) above the ground. The clutch size is two to four eggs; the incubation period and time to fledging are not known.<p>The chestnut-bellied cuckoo's principal vocalization is a "[h]oarse 'quak-quak-ak-ak-ak-ak', slow, then accelerating towards [the] end."
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- stable
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
Chihuahuan Meadowlark
Sturnella lilianae
Handsome grassland bird found from the southwestern US to central Mexico. It was long considered a subspecies of the widespread Eastern Meadowlark, but recent research has shown that it should be treated as a distinct species. In the limited area where their ranges meet, note that Chihuahuan Meadowlark has paler flanks and more white in the tail. Separating Chihuahuan Meadowlark and Western Meadowlark is a common ID challenge as their ranges mostly overlap. Voice is often the safest bet. Chihuahuan Meadowlark has a simpler, less gurgled song and its typical call note is a sharp “zit” (not a low “chuck”). Silent birds can be identified if the tail is seen well. Chihuahuan Meadowlark’s outer four tail feathers are almost completely white, whereas the white in Western Meadowlark’s tail is mostly restricted to the outer three feathers. Chihuahuan Meadowlark’s cheek also tends to be paler, though this is not always a reliable feature. Prefers tall, undisturbed grassland areas, often scattered with oak trees. Feeds on the ground where it usually stays well hidden, and sometimes sits on exposed perches, especially when singing.
Violet Crow
Corvus violaceus
An entirely blackish short-tailed crow. Has a subtle purplish sheen that is visible in only certain lighting conditions. Juveniles lack purple gloss. Inhabits forest, edge, and plantations in the lowlands and foothills. Singles, pairs, or small groups can be found in the canopy. Recently described from Seram, and perhaps also occurs on Ambon and Buru. Unmistakable, being the only crow on these islands. Gives an odd call for a crow: a nasal, trumpeting “errr.” Gives more crow-like sounds too, but higher-pitched than many sounds of the family, including a high-pitched, guttural “kreh-kreh…”.
Robin Accentor
Prunella rubeculoides
A distinctive and common inhabitant of high-altitude open spaces such as pastures, steppelands, and mountain valleys. Bold and confiding, often visiting villages and towns where it forages for scraps with snowfinches, mountain-finches, and other accentors. Combination of ash-gray head, orange breast, and white belly is unique amongst the birds in its region.
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