CUBAN CUCULIFORMES   - Cuckoos, Turacos, Anis

There are only four species in this order of birds found in Cuba, the yellow-billed cuckoo, the great lizard-cuckoo, the mangrove cuckoo, and the smooth-billed ani. They are all members of the Cuculidae family.

The yellow-billed cuckoo breeds from the Great Plains to Texas and east to the Atlantic Coast states and the Caribbean. It is also found in scattered locations in the western United States. It winters in South America. Like many members of the cuckoo family, the female yellow-billed cuckoo sometimes lays her eggs in the nest of another bird. She then leaves and lets the other bird feed and raise her chicks.

The mangrove cuckoo is found in southern Florida, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. Like other cuckoos, the mangrove cuckoo has zygodactyl feet. That means they have two toes facing frontwards and two toes facing backwards. Most birds have three toes facing forward and one toe facing backwards.

The great lizard-cuckoo is found in the Bahamas, Cuba, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is a large cuckoo, around 21 inches in length. It eats lizards, frogs, snakes, young birds, and insects. The smooth-billed ani is found in southern Florida, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. It is all black and has a thick, rounded bill.

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CUBAN CUCULIFORMES   - Cuckoos, Turacos, Anis

Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in the Wild Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Introduced Breeds in NH (Birds)
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

Location
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Click for More Info Click for Image

Species	Sounds	Occurrence
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus americanus		Breeding
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Scott Olmstead
Mangrove Cuckoo - Coccyzus minor		Year-round
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Jesse Fagan
Great Lizard-cuckoo - Coccyzus merlini		Year-round
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org William Adsett
Smooth-billed Ani - Crotophaga ani		Year-round
	Audio Credit: xeno-canto.org Antonio Silveira

Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus americanus
The yellow-billed cuckoo breeds from the Great Plains to Texas and east to the Atlantic Coast states and the Caribbean. It is also found in scattered locations in the western United States. It winters in South America.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus americanus
Caterpillars make up a large part of the yellow-billed cuckoo's diet. It also eats other large insects, bird eggs, berries, fruits, and seeds.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus americanus
Some people think the yellow-billed cuckoo calls out more on rainy days, so it is sometimes called the "rain crow."
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mangrove Cuckoo - Coccyzus minor
The mangrove cuckoo is found in southern Florida, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Great Lizard-cuckoo - Coccyzus merlini
The great lizard-cuckoo is found in the Bahamas, Cuba, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Smooth-billed Ani - Crotophaga ani
The smooth-billed ani is found in southern Florida, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School