Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo
Encyclopedia
The Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo (Coccyzus vieilloti) is a cuckoo
endemic
to the island of Puerto Rico
, and is one of 4 species of lizard-cuckoos which occur only on Caribbean
islands. These were formerly placed in the Saurothera (Greek for "lizard-eater") genus of the Cuculidae family, but are now lumped with Coccyzus (AOU 2006).
The binomial name of the Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo species commemorates French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot
.
The Puerto Rican-Lizard Cuckoo occurs in forests (common in the Guánica, Guajataca and Vega State Forests and in the Caribbean National Forest
) and coffee plantations throughout the island of Puerto Rico. The species can be observed slowly foraging the forest understory
for lizard
s, its main dietary component (approximately 75%). Large spiders and insects are consumed to supplement its diet.
Cuckoos are slender birds with long tails and long, thin, slightly curved bills. They move very slowly foraging for prey through the forest. Cuckoos do not swoop or circle in flight but generally fly in a direct line.
es) and weighs, on average, 80 gram
s (2.7 ounce
s).
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...
endemic
Endemism in birds
An endemic bird area is a region of the world that contains two or more restricted-range species, while a "secondary area" contains one or more restricted-range species. Both terms were devised by Birdlife International....
to the island of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, and is one of 4 species of lizard-cuckoos which occur only on Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
islands. These were formerly placed in the Saurothera (Greek for "lizard-eater") genus of the Cuculidae family, but are now lumped with Coccyzus (AOU 2006).
The binomial name of the Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo species commemorates French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot
Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot
Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot was a French ornithologist.Vieillot described a large number of birds for the first time, especially those he encountered during the time he spent in the West Indies and North America, and 26 genera established by him are still in use...
.
The Puerto Rican-Lizard Cuckoo occurs in forests (common in the Guánica, Guajataca and Vega State Forests and in the Caribbean National Forest
Caribbean National Forest
El Yunque National Forest, formerly known as the Luquillo National Forest, and the Caribbean National Forest, is a forest located in northeastern Puerto Rico. It is the only tropical rain forest in the United States...
) and coffee plantations throughout the island of Puerto Rico. The species can be observed slowly foraging the forest understory
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
for lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s, its main dietary component (approximately 75%). Large spiders and insects are consumed to supplement its diet.
Cuckoos are slender birds with long tails and long, thin, slightly curved bills. They move very slowly foraging for prey through the forest. Cuckoos do not swoop or circle in flight but generally fly in a direct line.
Description
The Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo has a gray breast and chin, a tan lower body and brown upper body. It can be identified by its gray chin and breast and reddish-tan underbelly. The main identifying characteristic for this species is its long dark tail with two white spots on its outer tail feathers. It measures from 40 to 48 centimeters (16 to 19 inchInch
An inch is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, and United States customary units. There are 36 inches in a yard and 12 inches in a foot...
es) and weighs, on average, 80 gram
Gram
The gram is a metric system unit of mass....
s (2.7 ounce
Ounce
The ounce is a unit of mass with several definitions, the most commonly used of which are equal to approximately 28 grams. The ounce is used in a number of different systems, including various systems of mass that form part of the imperial and United States customary systems...
s).
Habits
The Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo moves slowly through the vines and thickets of the middle story and upper canopy of the rain forest foraging for prey. Its favorite food source (about of its diet) is provided by the abundant lizard population in the forest. It also eats large spiders, beetles, stick bugs and caterpillars. The cuckoo often keeps its body still while it twists its neck at ddangles to strike its prey. This bird is often difficult to see because of its slow movement through the foliage, but after it rains it can sometimes be seen in the open drying-off and preening its feathers. Its song is a rapid cow-cow-cow-crrk, not unlike the sound a halloween witchmakes. The Cuckoo nest is a twig platform in a tree or large bush and usually contains up to 3 blue eggs.Habitat
The Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo is endemic to (only found in) Puerto Rico. It is found in forest thickets, woodlands and coffee plantations throughout the island.See also
- Fauna of Puerto RicoFauna of Puerto RicoThe fauna of Puerto Rico is similar to other island archipelago faunas, with high endemism, and low, skewed taxonomic diversity. Bats are the only extant native terrestrial mammals in Puerto Rico. All other terrestrial mammals in the area were introduced by humans, and include species such as cats,...
- List of endemic fauna of Puerto Rico
- List of Puerto Rican birds
- List of Vieques birds
- El Toro WildernessEl Toro WildernessEl Toro Wilderness is a National Wilderness Preservation System located partly within El Yunque National Forest on the island of Puerto Rico...