Coccyzus pluvialis
The Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo (Coccyzus pluvialis) is a striking and enigmatic avian resident of Jamaica, renowned for its distinctive appearance and secretive demeanor. Averaging 48-56 cm (19-22 inches) in length and weighing approximately 120-150 grams (4.2-5.3 oz), this medium-sized cuckoo boasts glossy dark olive-brown upperparts that contrast sharply with its rich, rufous-chestnut underparts, including the belly, flanks, and undertail coverts. A key field mark is its exceptionally long, gr...
This species primarily inhabits moist broadleaf forests, wet limestone forests, and montane rainforests, thriving from sea level up to elevations of approximately 1,700 meters (5,600 feet) across Jamaica.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming a wide range of large insects, especially caterpillars (including hairy ones), beetles, and orthopterans, occasionally supplemented with small lizards or tree frogs. Forages by gleaning from foliage and branches.
The Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo is primarily diurnal, though its secretive nature often makes it difficult to observe, preferring the dense canopy and understory where it moves deliberately and quietly. It is a highly insectivorous bird, employing a gleaning foraging strategy, methodically searching ...
The Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo is strictly endemic to the island of Jamaica, where it is found throughout suitable forested habitats. Its distribution spans from the coastal lowlands up into the montane regions, reaching elevations of approximately 1,700 meters (5,600 feet) in areas such as the Blue...
Near Threatened
- The Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo is one of the largest cuckoo species in the New World, boasting an impressive length of up to 56 cm (22 inches). - Unlike many of its Old World relatives, this cuckoo is not a brood parasite; it diligently builds its own nest and raises its young. - Its scientific na...