Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 11–12.2 in
28–31 cm - Wingspan
- 13.4–15.7 in
34–40 cm - Weight
- 1.4–2.3 oz
40–65 g
Other Names
- Coulicou à bec noir (French)
- Cuclillo piquinegre, Cuclillo pico negro (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Cuckoos eat many spiny caterpillars and the spines stick in the lining of the stomach. The stomach lining is periodically shed to remove the spines.
- The apparent tendency to call more frequently before rain explains why both Black-billed and Yellow-billed cuckoos are called "Rain Crows."
- Like its Old World relatives, the Black-billed Cuckoo is known occasionally to lay eggs in the nest of other bird species.
- The time from egg laying to young leaving the nest is, at 17 days, among the shortest for any bird. Despite this speed, most pairs raise only one brood a year.
Habitat
Forest
Groves of trees, forest edges, and thickets, frequently associated with water.
Food
Insects
Large insects, and especially caterpillars, some fruits and seeds.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1–6 eggs
- Egg Description
- Greenish-blue, unmarked.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless, but alert and active within minutes of hatching. Shiny black skin, no down.
Nest Description
Flimsy shallow cup of twigs and grasses. Lined with softer material. Placed in small trees.
Nest Placement
Tree
Behavior
Foliage Gleaner
Waits motionless for long periods, watching for prey to move. Makes running, hopping dashes to catch prey. May shake and hammer caterpillar on branch before swallowing.
Conservation
Least Concern
High Priority concern on Audubon Watch List; regional high-priority species for conservation in Midwest.
Credits
- Hughes, J. M. 2001. Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus). In The Birds of North America, No. 587 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.