Little Cuckoo
Encyclopedia
The Little Cuckoo is a species of bird in the cuckoo
family (Cuculidae) from South America
and Panama
. It was formerly placed in the genus Piaya
but a monotypic
genus Coccycua was once erected for it. This has been reinstated following the discovery that the closest living relatives of the Little Cuckoo are some species traditionally placed in Coccyzus
or Micrococcyx, rather than the other members of Piaya.
.
The Little Cuckoo makes harsh chek and kak calls.
south through Colombia
to Bolivia
, Peru
and Brazil
; in Ecuador
, it has been recorded as high up as 1900 metres (6,233.6 ft) ASL
. The Little Cuckoo is found in mangrove
swamps, and scrubby woodland near water. It is generally believed to be an all-year resident, but its irregular occurrence in some areas has led to speculations that it undertakes seasonal short-distance migrations
. Fairly widely distributed and not particularly rare, it is not considered a threatened species
by the IUCN.
This is a shy species which tends to keep to cover as it forages in low branches for insect
s and other arthropod
s. The female lays two white eggs in a deep cup nest in a tree or bamboo
. Like most American cuckoos, it incubates
the eggs itself.
Cuckoo
The cuckoos are a family, Cuculidae, of near passerine birds. The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos, also includes the turacos . Some zoologists and taxonomists have also included the unique Hoatzin in the Cuculiformes, but its taxonomy remains in dispute...
family (Cuculidae) from South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. It was formerly placed in the genus Piaya
Piaya
Piaya is a small genus of relatively large and long-tailed cuckoos, which occur in Mexico, Central America and South America. The two species in taxonomic order are:* Squirrel Cuckoo, Piaya cayana* Black-bellied Cuckoo, Piaya melanogaster...
but a monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
genus Coccycua was once erected for it. This has been reinstated following the discovery that the closest living relatives of the Little Cuckoo are some species traditionally placed in Coccyzus
Coccyzus
Coccyzus is a genus of cuckoos which occur in the Americas.-Species and taxonomy:The species in taxonomic order are:* Black-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus* Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus...
or Micrococcyx, rather than the other members of Piaya.
Description
This species is about 27 centimetres (10.6 in) long and weighs 40 grams (1.4 oz). The adult is mainly chestnut brown, with a greyish lower belly, browner tail and white tips to the tail feathers. The bill is yellow, short, and decurved; the iris of the eyes is red. Immature birds are dark brown with a black bill and no white tail tips. It is smaller and the throat is darker than in the Squirrel CuckooSquirrel Cuckoo
The Squirrel Cuckoo, Piaya cayana, is a large and active species of cuckoo found in wooded habitats from northwestern Mexico to northern Argentina and Uruguay, and on Trinidad.-Description:...
.
The Little Cuckoo makes harsh chek and kak calls.
Range, habitat and behavior
This small cuckoo occurs from Panama and TrinidadTrinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
south through Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
to Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
; in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, it has been recorded as high up as 1900 metres (6,233.6 ft) ASL
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
. The Little Cuckoo is found in mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
swamps, and scrubby woodland near water. It is generally believed to be an all-year resident, but its irregular occurrence in some areas has led to speculations that it undertakes seasonal short-distance migrations
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
. Fairly widely distributed and not particularly rare, it is not considered a threatened species
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
by the IUCN.
This is a shy species which tends to keep to cover as it forages in low branches for insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s and other arthropod
Arthropod
An arthropod is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton , a segmented body, and jointed appendages. Arthropods are members of the phylum Arthropoda , and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others...
s. The female lays two white eggs in a deep cup nest in a tree or bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
. Like most American cuckoos, it incubates
Avian incubation
Incubation refers to the process by which certain oviparous animals hatch their eggs, and to the development of the embryo within the egg. The most vital factor of incubation is the constant temperature required for its development over a specific period. Especially in domestic fowl, the act of...
the eggs itself.
External links
- Little Cuckoo videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Little Cuckoo photo gallery VIREO
- Photo-High Res; Article pbase.com
- Photo-High Res; Article geometer–"Best Bird Photos"
