BIRDS OF KANSAS. 321 



Coccyzus americanus (LINN.). 



YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO. 

 PLATE XXI. 



A summer resident; common. Arrive early in May; begin 

 laying the last of May; return early in September; a few occa- 

 sionally linger until the first of October. 



B. 69. R. 387. C. 429. G. 178, 149. U. 387. 



HABITAT. Eastern North America; south from New Bruns- 

 wick, Canada, etc. , to the West Indies and Costa Rica; west to 

 eastern Mexico and the edge of the Great Plains. They are 

 known to breed within their range as far south as the West 

 Indies. 



SP. CHAB. "Upper mandible and tip of lower black; rest of lower mandible, 

 and cutting edges of the upper, yellow. Upper parts of a metallic greenish olive, 

 slightly tinged with ash towards the bill; beneath white. Tail feathers (except 

 the median, which are like the back) black, tipped with white for about an inch 

 on the outer feathers, the external one with the outer edge almost entirely white. 

 Quills orange cinnamon; the terminal portion and a gloss on the outer webs 

 olive." 



Stretch of 

 Length. -wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 12.25 16.60 5.75 6.00 1.00 1.00 



Female... 11.60 16.00 5.55 5.50 1.00 .95 



Iris brown; legs and feet bluish olive; claws horn blue. 



This species is generally known as the "Bain Crow" or "Cow- 

 bird;" the latter on account of its call notes: "Kow, kow, kow, 

 kow, kow," uttered rapidly; the former because the birds are 

 more noisy when the atmosphere is moist and warm, and their oft- 

 repeated notes are therefore thought to be an indication of fall- 

 ing weather. Their notes are occasionally heard at night. They 

 inhabit alike the deep, solitary woods, the open groves and prai- 

 rie thickets. Their flight is noiseless, smooth and swift, gliding 

 with ease through the thick trees and branches. The birds feed 

 upon nearly all forms of insect life; even the ugly caterpillar is 

 devoured with a relish. When the breeding season is over they 

 feed freely upon berries. 



The males arrive about eight days in advance of the females; 

 their courtships are of short duration, and they soon commence 

 making preparations for housekeeping. 



Their nests, a loose, frail, flat structure made of sticks and 



-31 



