ExploreBirds

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is a beautiful bird known for its bright yellow bill and soft, cooing sounds. It loves to hide in trees and is often seen flitting about in search of tasty insects.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Yellow-billed Cuckoo has a slender, elegant body with a long tail. It features a bright yellow lower mandible, dark brown upperparts, and clean white underparts. Distinctive rufous patches flash on its wings during flight, and its long tail shows bold white spots from below.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderCuculiformesFamilyCuculidaeGenusCoccyzus
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
feathered trait badgesolitary trait badgesinging trait badgecolorful trait badge
Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

During outbreaks of cicadas or caterpillars, cuckoos can gorge themselves, eating hundreds in a single day!

If food is scarce, a female cuckoo will lay fewer eggs, making sure each chick has enough to eat!

Their unusual call is often heard just before a summer rain, earning them the nickname "Rain Crow"!

These birds are incredible long-distance flyers, migrating thousands of miles from North America to South America!

Special abilities

Ability

Caterpillar Chomper

Yellow-billed Cuckoos can eat many hairy caterpillars because they shed their stomach lining to remove irritating spines.

Ability

Stealthy Hunter

Yellow-billed Cuckoos have soft feathers that allow them to fly almost silently, helping them ambush insect prey.

Ability

Rapid Nesting

Yellow-billed Cuckoos can raise their young from egg to flight in a remarkably short 17 days, especially when food is abundant.

Measurements & details

Length
28-32 cm
Wingspan
40-48 cm
Weight
0.05-0.07 kg
Lifespan
3-7 years
Top Speed
60 km/h
Clutch Size
2-5
Incubation
9-11 days
Migration Distance
6000 km

Diet & Feeding

These birds are insect-eating champions, especially loving caterpillars!

Primary Foods

  • Caterpillars
  • Cicadas
  • Grasshoppers
  • Beetles
  • Moths

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

hunts

Eastern Tent Caterpillar

Malacosoma americanum

devours large numbers of these fuzzy pests.

hunts

Periodical Cicada

Magicicada septendecim

gorges during their infrequent, noisy outbreaks.

eaten by

Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter cooperii

a swift avian predator that may catch cuckoos.

parasitizes

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

sometimes lays eggs in their nests for others to raise.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Enjoy watching birds from a distance, and be quiet so you don't scare them away!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Yellow-billed Cuckoo?

28-32 cm

What is Yellow-billed Cuckoo's wingspan?

40-48 cm

How much does Yellow-billed Cuckoo weigh?

0.05-0.07 kg

How long does Yellow-billed Cuckoo live?

3-7 years

How fast can Yellow-billed Cuckoo move?

60 km/h

What does Yellow-billed Cuckoo eat?

These birds are insect-eating champions, especially loving caterpillars!

Where is Yellow-billed Cuckoo usually found?

Forests

How does Yellow-billed Cuckoo hunt?

Foraging

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

Where to spot

More Birds