Black-billed Cuckoo 





Greenish blue 



THE BIRD BOOK 



387a. California Cuckoo. 



Coccyzus americanus occidentalis. 



Range. — Western North America, from 

 British Columbia, southward. 



Slightly larger and with a stouter bill than 

 the last. Eggs not distinguishable. 



388. Black-billed Cuckoo. Coccyzus 

 erythrophthahmis. 



Range. — United States east of the Rocky 



Mountains; north to Labrador and Manitoba; 



south in winter to Central and South America. 

 This species is rather 



more common in the 



northern part of the 



United States than the 



Yellow - billed variety. 



The bird is smaller, has 



a blackish bill, and the 



tail is the same color as 



the back and only slight- 

 ly tipped with white. 



Their nests are built in 

 similar locations and of the same materials as used by the Yellow-bill; the three 

 or four eggs are smaller and a darker shade of greenish blue. Size 1.15 x .85. 

 All the Cuckoos are close sitters and will not leave the nest until nearly reached 

 with the hand, when they will slowly flutter off through the underbrush, and 

 continue to utter their mournful "Kuk-kuk-kuk," many times repeated. 



[388.1.] Kamchatka Cuckoo. Cuculus canorus telephonus. 



An Asiatic subspecies of the common European Cuckoo, accidentally occur- 

 ring in Alaska. 



TROGONS. Family TROGONID^ 



389. Coppery-tailed Trogon. 

 Trogon ambiguus. 



Range— Southern Mexico, north to the Lower Rio 

 Grande in Texas and in southern Arizona, in both of which 

 localities they probably breed. 



This is the only member of this 

 family of beautiful birds which 

 reaches our borders. This species 

 is 12 inches in length, and is a 

 metallic green color on the upper 

 parts and breast, and with coppery 

 reflections of the middle tail feath- 

 ers, the outer ones being white, 

 very finely vermiculated with black, 

 as are the wing coverts. The under- 

 parts, except for a white band 



across the breast, are rosy red. This species nest in 

 cavities in large trees, generally in large, deserted Wood- 

 pecker holes. They are also said to have been found nest- 

 ing in holes in banks. Their eggs are three or four in 

 number and are a dull white in color. Size 1.10 x .85. 



246 



Dull White 



387a — 389 



