Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Order : Cuculiformes
Cuculiformes are group of birds made up of two distinct families, the Turacos (Musophagidae) made of 20 species found only in Africa, and Cuckoos (Cuculidae) containing around 127 species from around the world. The Cuckoos are an ancient group with no living near relatives, even the turacos are quite distinct with no intermediate connecting species. Cuckoos display a large variation on breeding habits as some are brood parasites, others make regular nests while others make communal nests.

Family : Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Cuckoos, as a group, tend to be forest birds often preferring dense thickets and are more likely to be heard than seen. While Cuckoos are found on every continent except Antarctica, subfamilies are restricted to one hemisphere or the other, for example the crotphafinae is wholly new world and the musophagidae containing 20 species are found only in Africa. Many species are brood parasites. Four genera inhabit the West Indies, all tend to be sluggish and difficult to locate, but quite tame. Most cuckoos are solitary, often furtive birds being inconspicuous even when relatively common, and apart from the communal nesting Ani they do not form flocks or even small groups.

Name : Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
Length : 28 - 30 cm ( 11 - 12 in )
Local Names : Rain Bird, Rain Crow, Coffin Bird

Similar to the Mangrove Cuckoo the Yellow-billed Cuckoo can be distinguished by it’s lack of any ochraceous buff on the underparts, the lack of any black around the eye, and a more obvious yellow lower mandible. It’s voice is higher pitched and less guttural, and the call ends in a rather deliberate cow-cow-cow-cow. It occupies similar habitat to that of the Mangrove Cuckoo, preferring lowland dry scrub woodland. It’s diet also consists of insects, spiders and small lizards.



#Yellow-billed Cuckoo #Coccyzus americanus #Cuckoos #Cuculidae #birds of the West Indies #birds of Trinidad & Tobago #birds of Tobago #birds


Bird identification images

Smooth-billed Ani

Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani)

Smooth-billed Ani

Order : Cuculiformes
Cuculiformes are group of birds made up of two distinct families, the Turacos (Musophagidae) made of 20 species found only in Africa, and Cuckoos (Cuculidae) containing around 127 species from around the world. The Cuckoos are an ancient group with no living near relatives, even the turacos are quite distinct with no intermediate connecting species. Cuckoos display a large variation on breeding habits as some are brood parasites, others make regular nests while others make communal nests.

Family : Cuckoos and Anis (Cuculidae)
Ani’s consist of three tropical American species that make up the genus Crotophaga, subfamily of the Cuckoo family Cuculidae. All three are similar in appearance where the Smooth-billed or Common Ani (Crotophaga ani) which is recorded in Florida, West Indies, Central and South America,can be distinguished from the slightly larger Grooved Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) which has three distinct grooves in the upper mandible and ranges from southern North America through Central America to Northern South America. The largest aptly named the Greater Ani (Crotophaga major) which is found in the West Indies, Mexico and South America mainly east of the Andes. Apart from slight physical differences all three species display similar characteristics as described for the Smooth-billed Ani.

Name : Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani)

An all black cuckoo, though the black is made up of intricately patterned blue and brown feathers, the Ani is easy to identify due to it’s distinctive curved bill. The tail, which, like other cuckoos, broadens towards the end and then tapers at the tip consists of only 8 feathers, which the bird uses to steady itself on what often appear to be precarious landings. The Ani live in groups of about twelve and feed mainly on grasshoppers and insects found at ground level. It is usual for at least one member of the group to remain on an open perch and sound the alarm, a shrill repeated ‘wer-ik’ at the approach of danger. The call is also used as members of the group fly with alternate glides to another location informing remaining members still feeding on the ground that the group is moving. The nest is a communal affair where several females usually deposit their eggs in layers, more or less separated by leaves, in a large bulky nest in the centre of a bush or tree. The lower eggs fail to hatch. The young are fed and guarded by all members of the group.

#Smooth-billed Ani ##Cuckoos Anis #Cuculidae #Cuculiformes #birds of North America #birds of the West indies #birds of South America #birds of Tobago #birds of Trinidad & Tobago #birds



Bird identification images

Mangrove Cuckoo

Mangrove Cuckoo (Coccyzus minor)

Mangrove Cuckoo

Order : Cuculiformes
Cuculiformes are group of birds made up of two distinct families, the Turacos (Musophagidae) made of 20 species found only in Africa, and Cuckoos (Cuculidae) containing around 127 species from around the world. The Cuckoos are an ancient group with no living near relatives, even the turacos are quite distinct with no intermediate connecting species. Cuckoos display a large variation on breeding habits as some are brood parasites, others make regular nests while others make communal nests.

Family : Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Cuckoos, as a group, tend to be forest birds often preferring dense thickets and are more likely to be heard than seen. While Cuckoos are found on every continent except Antarctica, subfamilies are restricted to one hemisphere or the other, for example the crotphafinae is wholly new world and the musophagidae containing 20 species are found only in Africa. Many species are brood parasites. Four genera inhabit the West Indies, all tend to be sluggish and difficult to locate, but quite tame. Most cuckoos are solitary, often furtive birds being inconspicuous even when relatively common, and apart from the communal nesting Ani they do not form flocks or even small groups.

Name : Mangrove Cuckoo (Coccyzus minor)
Length : 23 - 18 cm ( 11 - 12 in )
Local Names : Rain Bird, Crow Bird, Coffin Bird

A true cuckoo, the Mangrove cuckoo, although not a shy bird, is relatively inconspicuous and far more likely to reveal it’s presence by a long guttural ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-gau-gau-go, a beautiful call that cannot be mistaken. However, due to it’s preference of thicker vegetation, the Mangrove can be difficult to locate. As it’s name suggests it’s a bird of Mangrove swamp and dry scrub woodland but it can also be seen in areas of secondary vegetation. Unlike some species of cuckoo, the Mangrove cuckoo is not parasitic, and lays ( 2 - 3 ) light bluish green eggs in it’s own nest, which is usually built in thick vegetation or trees at low or moderate elevations above the ground. Distinguished from the similar Yellow-billed cuckoo by a black stripe that goes through the eye to the ear covets. The throat and breast vary from whitish to rich ochraceaous, the posterior under parts always being ochraceaous. The bill is curved with a yellow or orange lower mandible and dark upper mandible, the tail broadens towards the end then tapers at the tip. The underside of the tail is black with contrasting white spots. It’s diet consist of insects, spiders and even small lizards.

#Mangrove Cuckoo #Coccyzus minor #Rain Bird #Crow Bird #Coffin Bird #Cuckoos #Cuculidae #Cuculiformes #forest birds #wetland birds #birds #birds of Tobago

Bird identification photos