The California Cuckoo 



the indigestible portions, such as bones, feathers and claws, is proof anew 

 of the bird's excellent digestion. 



No other bird is so bound up with the historic, romantic past of 

 California. No other has so caught the fickle focus of public curiosity, 

 or been rumored in so far a fame. Yet few others have been so penalized 

 for such prominence. From the roisterous vaquero, who pursued the 

 bird at sight, to the intoxicated possessor of the modern pump gun, who 

 shot up everything in sight, the bird has suffered in cruel measure. Now 

 that we have good laws, it is time to add good sense and good will, and 

 so make amends for the stupid and depauperizing excesses of the older 

 generations. 



No. 224 



California Cuckoo 



A. O. U. No. 387a. Coccyzus americanus occidentalis Ridgway. 



Synonyms. — Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Rain-Crow. 



Description. — Adult: Above nearly uniform, satiny, brownish gray, with 

 something of a bronzy-green sheen; the inner webs of the primaries cinnamon-rufous, 

 the outer webs and sometimes the wing-coverts tinged with the same; central pair of 

 tail-feathers like the back and completely covering the others during repose; remaining 

 pairs sharply graduated, — blackish with broad terminal white spaces, the outer pair 

 white-edged; a bare space around the eye yellow; underparts uniform silky white or 

 sordid. Bill curved, upper mandible black, except touched with yellow on sides; 

 lower mandible yellow, with black tip. Immature: Similar to adult, but plumage of 

 back with slight admixture of cinnamon-rufous or vinaceous; tail-feathers narrower, — 

 the contrast between their black and white areas less abrupt. Length 292.1-330.2 

 (11. 00-13. 00); wing 148 (5.83); tail 147 (5.79); bill 27.1 (1.067); depth of bill at base 

 8.9 (.35); tarsus 27.4 (1.079). 



Recognition Marks. — Robin to kingfisher size; slim form and lithe appearance; 

 brown above, white below; sharply graduated, broadly white-tipped tail-feathers. 



Nesting. — Nest: A careless structure of twigs, bark-strips, and catkins; placed 

 in trees or bushes, usually at moderate heights. Eggs: 3 or 4; elliptical oval; pale 

 niagara green. Av. size 30.8 x 23.2 (1. 21 x .91) ; index 75. Season: May-July; one brood. 



Range of Coccyzus americanus. — Temperate North America; in winter south to 

 South America. 



Range of C. a. occidentalis. — Not common summer resident of western United 

 States, north into southern British Columbia, east to eastern Colorado and western 

 Texas, and south through Lower California and Chihuahua. Winter home not distin- 

 guished from that of species. 



Distribution in California. — Summer resident of Sonoran zones, chiefly west 

 of the Sierran divide; locally common in willow associations of river valleys only. 

 Recorded north to Sonoma County, Shasta County, and Bishop in Owens Valley. 



Authorities. — Newberry (Coccygus erythropthalmus), Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., 

 vol. vi., 1857, p. 92 (Ft. Reading, Shasta Co.); Shelton, Condor, vol. xiii., 191 1, p. 19 

 (nesting habits, etc.; Sonoma Co.); Jay, Condor, vol. xiii., 191 1, p. 69, figs. (s. Calif.; 

 desc. and photos of nest, eggs, and young; habits). 



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