Yellow-billed vs Black-billed Cuckoo call difference - Northeast US (1 Viewer)

Hey everyone,

Sorry but I don't have audio. I am not the best with bird calls and songs, so I need a little help here.

I heard a Cuckoo yesterday and today in the same spot and only one call each time. My general impression is Yellow-billed. It did the "cow" type of call that sounds a bit like knocking and it was steady and slowed down at the end getting a little softer. I listened online to the different calls of the two and it seems the Black-billed is a faster call and doesn't slow down at the end. Is this always the case? I would like to ID this one by ear if possible. I don't think he will present himself, but I will go back out maybe tomorrow again before work to the same park. The Cuckoo seems back in the woods obscured and over a little canal, so I can't seem to find him with binos from my vantage point through the foliage.

From your description, I would call it a Yellow-billed over Black-billed with fair confidence. I wish I had more field experience with Black-billeds (doesn't everybody?), but have never heard them call like a Yellow-billed.

RJP said:

From your description, I would call it a Yellow-billed over Black-billed with fair confidence. I wish I had more field experience with Black-billeds (doesn't everybody?), but have never heard them call like a Yellow-billed.

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Thanks Randy. Me too...I've seen more Yellow-billed, but don't have too much experience with either. Last year I saw a pair of Yellow-billed and that was it (no Black-billed). The two years prior I saw one of each species (each year). So far this Spring it has been just hearing the calls, but it's still early.