Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo |
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| Conservation status | |
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Coccyzus
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| Species: |
vieilloti
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The Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo (its scientific name is Coccyzus vieilloti) is a special type of cuckoo bird. It is found only on the island of Puerto Rico. This makes it an endemic species. It is one of four types of lizard-cuckoos that live only on Caribbean islands.
These birds used to be in their own group called Saurothera, which means "lizard-eater" in Greek. But now, scientists group them with other Coccyzus cuckoos. The scientific name of this bird honors a French bird expert named Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot.
You can find the Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo in many forests across Puerto Rico. These include the Guánica, Guajataca, Vega State Forests, and the El Yunque National Forest. They also live in coffee farms. These birds move slowly through the forest, looking for lizards. Lizards are their favorite food, making up about 75% of what they eat! They also enjoy large spiders and insects.
Cuckoos are thin birds with long tails and long, slightly curved beaks. They fly in a straight line and do not swoop around.
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About the Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo
The Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo has a gray chest and chin. Its lower body is tan, and its upper body is brown. A key way to spot this bird is its long, dark tail. This tail has two white spots on the outer feathers.
This cuckoo is about 40 to 48 centimeters (16 to 19 inches) long. It weighs around 80 grams (2.7 ounces).
How the Cuckoo Lives
The Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo moves slowly through the trees. It searches for food among the vines and thick plants in the middle and upper parts of the rainforest. Its main food is the many lizards living in the forest. It also eats big spiders, beetles, stick bugs, and caterpillars.
This cuckoo often stays very still. It will twist its neck to catch its prey. It can be hard to see because it moves so slowly through the leaves. But after it rains, you might see it out in the open. It will be drying off and cleaning its feathers.
Its song sounds like a fast cow-cow-cow-crrk. It is a unique sound!
Reproduction and Nesting
The cuckoo builds its nest from twigs. It places the nest in a tree or a large bush. Usually, the nest holds up to three blue eggs.
Where the Cuckoo Lives
The Puerto Rican lizard cuckoo is found only in Puerto Rico. It lives in thick forests, woodlands, and coffee farms all over the island.
See also
