Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo
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| iPuerto Rican Lizard‑Cuckoo | ||||||||||||||||
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| Coccyzus vieilloti Bonaparte, 1850 |
The Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo (Coccyzus vieilloti) is a cuckoo endemic to the island of Puerto Rico, and is one of 4 species of lizard-cuckoos which occur only on Caribbean islands. These were formerly placed in the Saurothera (Greek for "lizard-eater") genus of the Cuculidae family, but are now lumped with Coccyzus (AOU 2006).
The binomial name of the Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo species commemorates French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot.
This species has a gray breast and chin, a tan lower body and brown upper body. The main identifying characteristic for this species is its long dark tail with two white spots on its outer tail feathers. It measures from 40 to 48 centimeters (16 to 19 inches) and weighs, on average, 80 grams (2.7 ounces).
The Puerto Rican-Lizard Cuckoo occurs in forests (common in the Guánica, Guajataca and Vega State Forests and in the Caribbean National Forest) and coffee plantations throughout the island of Puerto Rico. The species can be observed slowly foraging the forest understory for lizards, its main dietary component (approximately 75%). Large spiders and insects are consumed to supplement its diet.
The species builds nests from twigs and lays from 2 to 3 blue eggs.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Saurothera vieilloti. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern,and the criteria used
- Oberle, Mark (2003). Las aves de Puerto Rico en fotografías. Editorial Humanitas, 14. ISBN 0-9650104-2-2. (Spanish)
- Mowbray, Alan. Wildlife facts - Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo. USDA Forest Service. Retrieved on June 25, 2006.
