Image © Tom Friedel
(Creative Commons License)
Nomenclature
Scientific Name: Coccyzus minor
Name in Spanish (Mexico): Cuclillo Manglero
Name in Mayan (if known):
ABA 4-Letter Bird Code: MACU
Family: Cuculidae - Cuckoos and Allies
About this Species
The Mangrove Cuckoo (Coccyzus minor) is a bird species that inhabits the mangrove forests of the Yucatan Peninsula, including Guatemala and Belize. These birds have a distinctive appearance, with a brown back, white belly, and black facial mask. They are around 12 inches in length and have a curved beak, which they use to eat insects and small animals.
Mangrove Cuckoos are migratory birds that breed in the Yucatan Peninsula during the summer months, and then move south to Central and South America for the winter. They build their nests in mangrove trees, where they lay 2-3 eggs. The eggs hatch after about two weeks, and the young birds fledge around three weeks later.
Mangrove Cuckoos are known for their distinctive call, which sounds like "kow-poo-kow-poo-kow-poo." They are an important part of the ecosystem in the mangrove forests, as they help to control insect populations and are preyed upon by larger predators such as raptors and snakes. However, habitat loss and degradation pose a significant threat to the species, as mangrove forests are rapidly disappearing due to human activity.
*Occurrence and Distribution in the Yucatan Peninsula
RESIDENCY STATUS: Yearround Resident
FREQUENCY STATUS: Fairly Common in the...
DISTRIBUTION TRENDS: Highest populations are in the ...
*This information was gathered from eBird (www.ebird.org)