Dry Tortugas April 2006
Credit: James Bass

North American field guide

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

Also known as:Rain Crow, Storm Crow

Identification

Field notes

28-33 (11-13") Fairly common and widespread. Woodlands, moist thickets, farms, orchards.

Downcurved bill - black above, yellow below; slim body is grayish-brown above white below; rufous in primaries flash in flight; long tail has large oval white spots on dark underside.

Eats mostly hairy caterpillars. Quite shy. Perches near tree trunks. Heard more than seen.

Song: hollow wooden rapid rattling "ka-ka-ka kow-kow-kowp".

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.