Mangrove Cuckoo Identification

The Four Keys to ID

• Size & Shape

  A large, lanky bird with a long tail, long, full wings, and a fairly thick, curved bill.

  Relative Size

  Larger than a Northern Mockingbird, smaller than a Common Grackle.

  between robin and crow

  Measurements

  • Both Sexes
• Color Pattern

  Brown above, buffy below, especially on the belly, with a dark mask, yellow or gray eyering, and bold black-and-white pattern on the underside of the tail. The bill is mostly black, with the lower (basal) portion yellow.

• Behavior

  Perches in tree canopies and watches carefully for insects, lizards, and other prey, then hops or flies quickly at prey once spotted. “Tenderizes” larger prey by beating it against a branch. Often sits motionless for long periods.

• Habitat

  Red mangrove and black mangrove stands in Florida, as well as in hardwood hammocks and beach scrub, usually near mangroves. In Caribbean and Latin America, look for them in scrubby woodlands, cultivated areas, rainforest, and cloud forest.