206 NESTS AND EGGS OP 



386. Coccyzus minor (Gmel.) [386.] 



Mangrove Cuckoo. 



Hab. West Indies (except Bahamas); Florida Keys; coast of Louisiana; Central to Northern and 

 Eastern South America. 



The Mangrove Cuckoo is very much like the yellow-billed species, 

 C. americanus, with the lower parts of the plumage more deeply col- 

 ored — deep ochraceous, often extending to the throat ; bill similar to 

 that of C. americanus . 



This species occurs in nearly all of the West Indian Islands, except 

 the Bahamas, and it is a rare summer resident of the Florida Keys. 

 Audubon records it is a regular summer visitor to Key West and the other 

 Keys. In the Island of Jamaica the Mangrove Cuckoo is said to breed 

 from March to July, building in the low branches of trees and in bushes. 

 The nest is described as a loosely made structure, composed of a few 

 dry sticks. The eggs are three, rarely four, in number, of a glaucous- 

 green color, oval-oblong in shape, and on the whole they are of the 

 same size and general appearance as those of C. americanus. 



387. Coccyzus americanus (Linn.) [387.] 



Yello'W-'billed Cnchoo. 



Hab. Eastern North America, north to British Province, west to the edge of Great Plains, south in 

 winter to tropical regions — West Indies, Eastern Mexico and Costa Kica. 



This bird is known by several names, such as Rain Crow, Rain Dove 

 and Chow-chow, which are likewise applied to the Black-billed species. 

 Wherever woods and undergrowth abound in Eastern United 

 States the Yellow-billed Cuckoo may be seen in the breeding season. 

 Its peculiar, resounding notes resembling the syllables kook-kook-kook 

 are probably uttered more frequently just before falling weather — 

 hence the name. Rain Crow. Being somewhat nocturnal in their habits, 

 the notes of both our Cuckoos are often heard at night. The nest 

 will usually be found in a low tree or bush, sometimes it is placed in a 

 brier patch close to the ground. Thickets along streams or upon islands 

 are favorite nesting places. The usual distance of the nest from the 

 ground is between five and ten feet. It is a slight structure of slender, 

 dried sticks, sometimes twelve to fifteen inches long, but generally 

 much shorter, bark-strips and catkins making up the fabric. Although 

 near relatives of the notorious Cuckoo of Europe, which, like our 

 Cowbird, lays its eggs in the nest of other birds, our Cuckoos generally 

 respect the marriage tie, and are not altogether deserving of the stigma 

 of the family name of Cuckoos of the Old World, although its eggs are 

 sometimes laid in the nests of the Mourning Dove, Catbird, Cedar 

 Waxwing, Cardinal Grosbeak, Robin, and others. 



