Bay-breasted Cuckoo - BirdForum Opus

Coccyzus rufigularis

Photo by caribemotion
Sierra de Bahoruco, Dominican Republic, 2009

Identification

45–50 cm

• Grey above with reddish-brown primary patch
• Reddish-brown throat and breast
• Ochraceous belly and undertail
• Glossy black tail with broad white tips to rectrices
• Heavy, curved bill

Similar species

Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo is equally large but has a pale breast

Distribution

Hispaniola and Gonave Island -- endangered due to both hunting and to habitat loss.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species¹.
Was formerly placed in genus Hyetornis.

Habitat

Seems to prefer dry forest but can be found in other habitats from lowland to mountains and also in rainforest.

Behaviour

Feeds on a variety of small animal matter.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. BirdLife International

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Bay-breasted Cuckoo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Bay-breasted_Cuckoo

External Links

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