Mangrove cuckoo


The mangrove cuckoo is a species of cuckoo that is native to the Neotropics.

Description

Adults have a long tail, brown above and black-and-white below, and a black curved bill with yellow on the lower mandible. The head and upper parts are brown. There is a yellow ring around the eye. This bird is best distinguished by its black facial mask and buffy underparts. Although the scientific name is minor, this species is on average the largest of North America's three Coccyzus cuckoos. Adults measure in length, weigh and span across the wings. The most common call heard is a guttural "gawk gawk gawk gawk gauk gauk". It will also call a single "whit".

Habitat and breeding

This cuckoo is found primarily in mangrove swamps and hammocks. It usually nests above water in a mangrove tree or in a fork of a tree above ground. The nest is a relatively flat platform of twigs and leaves. The female lays 2–4 eggs with both adults sharing in feeding the young bird.

Range and distribution

The mangrove cuckoo is a resident of southern Florida in the United States, the Caribbean, both coasts of Mexico and Central America, and the Atlantic coast of South America as far south as the mouth of the Amazon River. The mangrove cuckoo is generally fairly common in its specialized range. This bird could be threatened by human development of mangrove habitat.

Diet

It prefers caterpillars and grasshoppers, but will also take other insects, spiders, snails, small lizards, and fruit.