Coccyzus euleri
The Pearly-breasted Cuckoo (Coccyzus euleri) is a medium-sized and rather elusive cuckoo, measuring approximately 26-28 cm (10-11 in) in length and weighing 40-50 grams. Its plumage is subtly elegant, featuring grayish-brown to olive-brown upperparts contrasted with a distinctive pale, pearly-gray wash on the throat and breast, fading to whiter on the belly. Key field marks include a relatively long, graduated dark tail tipped with white on the outer rectrices, a striking bicolored bill with ...
Found primarily in humid or semi-humid secondary growth, forest edges, clearings, and riparian woodlands, typically from sea level up to 1200-1500 meters.
Feeds predominantly on large insects, particularly caterpillars, grasshoppers, and cicadas, supplemented with spiders and other arthropods, primarily by gleaning from foliage.
Pearly-breasted Cuckoos are primarily diurnal, though they are often skulking and difficult to observe, preferring dense foliage. They are insectivorous, actively gleaning large insects like caterpillars, grasshoppers, and cicadas from leaves and branches. During the breeding season, they are gen...
The Pearly-breasted Cuckoo is an austral migrant with a wide distribution across South America. Its primary breeding range extends across the southern Amazon basin, including southeastern Peru, northern and eastern Bolivia, central and southern Brazil, and occasionally into Paraguay and northern ...
Least Concern
- Despite being a cuckoo, the Pearly-breasted Cuckoo builds its own nest and raises its own young, a notable exception to the brood parasitic behavior of many of its Old World relatives. - Its elusive nature means it's more often detected by its distinctive calls echoing through the forest unders...