BIRDS OF NEW YORK STATE 29 



Cuckoo, Black-billed (Coccy::us crythrophthalmus) 



The cuckoo is named from the song of its European cousin, 

 the song of the American species in no way resembling the word. 

 It is found in woods and swamp land. It is wholly beneficial. 

 Caterpillars are its principal food, tent caterpillars and other 

 web worms being its favorites when these are available. Its 

 call, peculiar flight and extra long tail are means of locating and 

 identifying it. 11.5-12.7 



Call no. 

 Nu CvB2 Nest with Four Eggs. Geneseo. (June 1915) Bailey 



The cuckoo builds a slovenly nest which many times fails to 

 hold the young and many are killed by. falling out and starving. 

 It seems to be true that it is growing more careless in nest 

 building and occasionally builds no nest but, like the cowbird, 

 lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. Robins and bronzed 

 grackles are said to be imposed upon, but more often it is one 

 of their own kind. The nest is crudely built of sticks but there 

 is some lining. 



Nu CvB3 Adult on Nest Facing Observer. Near Syracuse. (June 

 .1911) Bailey 



With the cuckoo the feathers remain inclosed in sheaths until 

 iuWy formed, when the transformation to a normally feathered 

 bird occurs within a few hours. Note the black bill and red 

 eye-ring. 



Nu CvB4 Nest in Maple Sapling, with Three Eggs of the Black- 

 billed and One of the Yellow-billed. Tully. (July 4, 

 1917) Bailey 



The yellow-billed zg^, is larger and whiter than the others. 



Nu CvBS Nest with Two Eggs and One Young Bird. Meridian 



Tahor 



The nest sometimes, as here, contains eggs and half-fledged 

 young, because the eggs are not laid regularly one each day, as 

 with most birds. 



