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 
erythrophthalmus. 
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. 
Black-billed Cuckoo 
Greenish blue 
[388.1.] Kamchatka Cuckoo. Cuculus canorus teleplionus. 
An Asiatic subspecies of the common European Cuckoo, 
ring in Alaska. 
TROGONS. Family TROGONID^E 
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, 
accidentally occur- 
24$ 
387a— 38? 
