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Black-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Audubon Illustration
John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.
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Showing primary migration corridor(s) for this species
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About the Black-billed Cuckoo
The black-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) is a New World species in the Cuculidae (cuckoo) family. The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus name, kokkuzo, means to call like a common cuckoo, and erythropthalmus is from eruthros, "red" and ophthalmos, "eye". It is very similar to, and overlaps in range with, the closely related yellow-billed cuckoo. A distinguishing characteristic of the family Cuculidae is laying eggs in the nests of other birds. Although many cuckoos are obligate brood parasites, C. erythropthalmus often incubate their own chicks.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Coccyzus erythropthalmus
- Family
- Cuckoos
- Order
- Cuculiformes
Similar species
Other members of the cuckoos family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
- Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
- Common Squirrel-Cuckoo Piaya cayana
- Dark-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus melacoryphus
- Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus
- Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris
- Lesser Ground-Cuckoo Morococcyx erythropygus
- Lesser Roadrunner Geococcyx velox
- Mangrove Cuckoo Coccyzus minor
- Mexican Squirrel-Cuckoo Piaya mexicana
- Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus optatus
- Pheasant Cuckoo Dromococcyx phasianellus
- Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani
Know when the Black-billed Cuckoo turns up near you
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Optics
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