Coccyzus erythropthalmus

A 31-cm-long bird with a stout slightly decurved bill, zygodactyl feet, grayish-brown dorsum, white venter (except tail), and a long tail that is patterned on the underside in gray with white feather tips; bill usually is all dark, may show yellow at base of lower mandible; reddish eye ring; in juveniles, the undertail is whiter, the eye ring is buffy, the pale underparts may have a buffy tinge, and there may be some rusty-brown color on the outer wing (NGS 1983).

Differs from the yellow-billed cuckoo (COCCYZUS AMERICANUS) in lacking rufous primaries and lacking an extensively yellow lower mandible.

BREEDING: Assigned to "eastern forest" biogeographical classification by Pyle et al. (1994). Forest edge and open woodland, both deciduous and coniferous, with dense deciduous thickets (AOU 1998). Found in extensive tracts of dry upland woods where it uses the midstory canopy and the overstory canopy for most activities (Legrand and Hamel 1980). High-ground forest, open woodland, thickets, willow (SALIX spp.), alder (ALNUS spp.), aspen (POPULUS spp.), vines (del Hoyo et al. 1997). In northern plains also utilizes prairie shrub thickets and shelterbelts at lower elevations (Dobkin 1994). In Colorado, most observations in urban forests characterized by introduced tree species. Next most common sightings occur in riparian vegetation dominated by cottonwoods (POPULUS spp.) and boxelders (BISON-M 1997).

Nests in groves of trees, forest edges, moist thickets, overgrown pastures; in deciduous or evergreen tree or shrub. Is a low or ground nesting species (Peterjohn et al. 1995). Nest an open cup, average 1.8 meters above ground, but at times almost on the ground and concealed by tall herbage (Bent 1940, Harrison 1978, Spencer 1943).

NON-BREEDING: During migration occurs from tropical evergreen forest to arid subtropical scrub. In New Mexico occurs where stream conditions provide sufficient permanent moisture for the emergent plants or for a narrow band of deciduous trees and shrubs; at low elevation characterized by cottonwood and sycamore (PLATANUS spp.), at mid-elevations by white alder (ALNUS RHOMBIFOLIA) and bigleaf maple (ACER MACROPHYLLUS), and at high elevations by willow (DeGraaf et al. 1991). In Costa Rica, in second growth, scrubby areas, semi-open, forest edge (Stiles and Skutch 1989). Scrub (arid or humid) as well as forest, although most frequently in lowland humid regions (AOU 1998). Generally found from lowlands up to 2000 meters (del Hoyo et al. 1997). Chipley (1976) observed species in remnant subtropical oak woodland at 1800 meters in Colombia.

Breeding densities vary considerably across years, in apparent response to caterpillar outbreaks (Bent 1940, del Hoyo et al. 1997). In winter joins mixed-species feeding flocks (Chipley 1976, del Hoyo et al. 1997).

A facultative brood parasite; occasionally lays eggs in the nest of Yellow-billed Cuckoo (COCCYZUS AMERICANUS) and at least ten other passerine species (Bent 1940, Harrison 1979, Hughes 1997, Thomas 1995). Lays clutch of two to five (usually two to three) eggs, mostly May-July. Incubation about 14 days by both parents. Young hatch at intervals, differ in size, and are tended by both parents. Adults bring insects carried in throat pouch and disgorge into mouth of nestlings. Chicks climb on branches at 7-9 days, fly at 21-24 days. Nesting initiation dates and clutch size may be influenced by food availability (Sealy 1978). A small sample of observed nests indicate a nesting success rate of 55 percent and chick survival of 71 percent (Spencer 1943).