Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo


The Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo is a cuckoo endemic to the island of Puerto Rico, and is one of 4 species of lizard-cuckoos which occur only on Caribbean islands. These were formerly placed in the genus Saurothera of the family Cuculidae, but are now lumped with Coccyzus.
The binomial name of the Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo species commemorates French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot.
The Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo occurs in forests and coffee plantations throughout the island of Puerto Rico. The species can be observed slowly foraging the forest understory for lizards, its main dietary component. Large spiders and insects are consumed to supplement its diet.
Cuckoos are slender birds with long tails and long, thin, slightly curved bills. They move very slowly foraging for prey through the forest. Cuckoos do not swoop or circle in flight but generally fly in a direct line.

Description

The Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo has a gray breast and chin, a tan lower body and brown upper body. It can be identified by its gray chin and breast and reddish-tan underbelly. The main identifying characteristic for this species is its long dark tail with two white spots on its outer tail feathers. It measures from 40 to 48 centimeters and weighs, on average, 80 grams.

Habits

The Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo moves slowly through the vines and thickets of the middle story and upper canopy of the rain forest foraging for prey. Its favorite food source is provided by the abundant lizard population in the forest. It also eats large spiders, beetles, stick bugs and caterpillars. The cuckoo often keeps its body still while it twists its neck at angles to strike its prey. This bird is often difficult to see because of its slow movement through the foliage, but after it rains it can sometimes be seen in the open drying-off and preening its feathers. Its song is a rapid , not unlike the sound a Halloween witch makes. The cuckoo nest is a twig platform in a tree or large bush and usually contains up to 3 blue eggs.

Habitat

The Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo is endemic to Puerto Rico. It is found in forest thickets, woodlands and coffee plantations throughout the island.