Black-billed Cuckoo
A species of Spot-tailed Cuckoos and Lizard-cuckoos Scientific name : Coccyzus erythropthalmus Genus : Spot-tailed Cuckoos and Lizard-cuckoos
Black-billed Cuckoo, A species of Spot-tailed Cuckoos and Lizard-cuckoos
Botanical name: Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Genus: Spot-tailed Cuckoos and Lizard-cuckoos
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Dominic Sherony , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
Adults have a long, graduated brown tail and a black, slightly downcurved bill. The head and upper parts are brown and the underparts are white. The feet are zygodactylous. Juveniles are drabber and may contain some rufous coloration on the wing. The adults have a narrow, red orbital ring while the juveniles' is yellow. Black-billed cuckoo chicks have white, sparsely-distributed, sheath-like down that contrasts heavily with their black skin. They also have complex, creamy-colored structures on their mouth and tongue, which may appear like warts or some type of parasitic infection however they are normal for the species. 
Size
28-30 cm (11-12 in)
Colors
Brown
Gray
White
Life Expectancy
5 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Clutch Size
2 - 5 eggs
Incubation Period
1 - 2 broods
Number of Broods
10 - 11 days
Nestling Period
6 - 7 days
Feeding Habits
Black-billed Cuckoo primarily consumes large insects like caterpillars and katydids, specifically favoring fall webworms, tent caterpillars, and gypsy moths, even in prolific amounts. Insects are beaten against branches to remove indigestible parts before eating. Hairs are purged via regurgitated pellets, similar to owls. This species also feeds on snails, bird eggs, berries, seeds, and fruit, particularly in wintering areas. Black-billed Cuckoo exhibits nomadic behavior to exploit insect outbreaks during breeding season, adjusting location dynamically for feeding opportunities.
Habitat
Black-billed Cuckoo is commonly found in the edges of mature deciduous or mixed woodlands and less so in coniferous forests. Preferring environments with an abundance of shrubs and thickets, black-billed Cuckoo also frequents younger growth forests, wetlands dominated by alder and willow, and open areas like abandoned fields and parks, provided there is dense cover. Proximity to water sources is essential. At higher elevations and in different climates, black-billed Cuckoo adapts to tropical rainforests, deciduous woodlands, and scrub forests in their South American wintering grounds. Vegetation such as aspen, poplar, birch, maple, hickory, hawthorn, and willow are particular favorites for these elusive edge-dwellers.
Nest Behavior
Black-billed Cuckoo pairs are known to begin nest construction together, but egg-laying may start before the nest is completed. The parental care is a joint effort, with both adults involved in raising their young, but specific details about the care and egg-laying patterns are not extensively described.
Nest Characteristics
Black-billed Cuckoo's nests are commonly found in deciduous trees, shrubs, or brambles, and sometimes in evergreen trees. They are hidden among leaves or tangles and placed at various heights, often below 7 feet, but can reach up to 50 feet. The nests are flimsy, shallow cups around 6 inches across and less than an inch deep, constructed from twigs, grasses, leaves, pine needles, plant fibers, rootlets, mosses, and spiderwebs.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Behavior
Black-billed Cuckoo exhibit cryptic behavior, often remaining motionless in thickets, emblematic of their reclusive nature. Their flight is smooth, powered by long wings as they hunt for prey, chiefly by laying in wait and then pouncing to seize caterpillars, which they meticulously de-spine on branches before consumption. Notable for foraging closer to ground level than their Yellow-billed counterparts, black-billed Cuckoo even venture onto the ground on occasion. The species is characterized by a period of courtship where males proffer food to potential mates, with pairs forming transient monogamous bonds for breeding. They infrequently engage in brood parasitism, displaying this behavior less often than other cuckoo species. Both parents share in the incubation of eggs, with offspring fledging as early as 6-7 days post-hatching, yet remaining flightless for an additional fortnight.
Species Status
Although the black-billed cuckoo is classified as Least Concern (LN) on the IUCN red list, its population is still on the decline. It faces many of the same challenges as many other North American songbirds. Pesticides are having a large effect on them because the chemicals are depleting their food resources. Other threats include the loss of habitat, especially in their wintering tropical habitats, as well as urbanization. As with other migratory birds, they frequently encounter large buildings on their migratory routes which they may collide with, resulting in death.
Scientific Classification
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