Bird · GBIF taxon 2496287
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus americanusAlso known as Rain Crow, Storm Crow
Yellow-billed Cuckoos are slender, long-tailed forest birds known for their stealthy behavior, often sitting motionless in dense foliage while searching for large caterpillars. They emit a distinctive, guttural, hollow-sounding knocking call that carries far through the woods, earning them a reputation as weather prophets. During breeding season, they occasionally lay eggs in the nests of other birds, though they primarily raise their own young in flimsy twig platforms.
MigratoryInsectivorousSecretive
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Tent Caterpillars
- Cicadas
- Katydids
Predators
- Hawks
- Owls
- Feral Cats
ThreatsHabitat loss (especially riparian woodlands in the West), pesticide use reducing food supply, and collisions with glass during migration.
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, riparian forests, overgrown orchards, and dense shrubby thickets.
Life span4 to 5 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCuculidae
- SpeciesCoccyzus americanus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Listen for calls: Locate these secretive birds by listening for their distinctive, hollow, knocking calls on humid summer days.
- Scan caterpillar outbreaks: Search dense deciduous foliage, especially near tent caterpillar webs, where they love to forage.
- Watch quietly: Avoid sudden movements, as they rely on staying perfectly still to blend into the canopy.
Close Relative Wolfgang Wander (colors adjusted by Skiessi) / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative 
Family Member Polinova / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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