Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 11–12.6 in
28–32 cm - Weight
- 2.3–2.5 oz
65–70 g
Other Names
- Coucou manioc gris, Coulicou des palétuviers (French)
- Cuclillo manglero (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The Mangrove Cuckoo was once thought to be fully migratory in Florida, but, winter sightings are becoming increasingly frequent in all parts of its Florida range. It is silent outside of the breeding season, and consequently becomes almost undetectable.
- Like other cuckoos, the Mangrove Cuckoo has four toes on each foot in a "zygodactyl" arrangement, with two toes forward and two behind, rather than the three-forward, one-back of most other birds.
Habitat
Forest
Mangrove swamps, tropical thickets and scrub.
Food
Insects
Caterpillars, grasshoppers, insect larvae, spiders, frogs, beetles, lizards, bird eggs and nestlings.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1–4 eggs
- Egg Description
- Pale bluish green fading to light greenish yellow, unmarked.
- Condition at Hatching
- Unknown, but probably like other cuckoos: helpless, but alert and active within minutes of hatching, with shiny black skin and no down.
Nest Description
Flimsy shallow platform of twigs, lined sparingly with bits of plant matter. Placed on branch or fork of mangrove, small tree or shrub.
Nest Placement
Tree
Behavior
Foliage Gleaner
Waits motionless for long periods, watching for prey to move. Makes running, hopping dashes to catch prey. Works large prey back and forth through its bill before swallowing.
Conservation
Least Concern
Uncommon in Florida and may be decreasing.
Credits
- Hughes, J. M. 1997. Mangrove Cuckoo (Coccyzus minor). In The Birds of North America, No. 299 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.