The Jamaican lizard cuckoo (Coccyzus vetula) is a species of bird in the tribe Phaenicophaeini, subfamily Cuculinae of the cuckoo family Cuculidae. It is endemic to Jamaica.[2][3]
The Jamaican lizard cuckoo and three other lizard cuckoos were for a time considered a single species. Individually they were previously placed in genus Saurothera that was later merged into the current Coccyzus, and they are considered a superspecies.[4] The Jamaican lizard cuckoo is monotypic.[2]
Descriptionedit
The Jamaican lizard cuckoo is 38 to 40 cm (15 to 16 in) long, about half of which is the tail, and weighs 86 to 105 g (3.0 to 3.7 oz). It has a long, straight, rectangular bill with a black maxilla and a paler mandible. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a brown forehead, crown to below the eye, and nape. Their upperparts are grayish with rufous primaries. Their throat is whitish and the rest of the underparts are rufous that is lighter on the undertail coverts. Their tail feathers are gray with wide white tips; the central pair have a black band above the tip. Their eye is surrounded by bare red skin. Juveniles have narrower tail feathers than adults and buffy tips on the secondaries.[5]
Distribution and habitatedit
The Jamaican lizard cuckoo is found throughout the island from sea level to 1,200 m (3,900 ft) of elevation. It primarily inhabits lowland tropical evergreen forest and is also found in tropical deciduous forest, more open woodlands, and semi-arid landscapes of trees and shrubs.[5]
The Jamaican lizard cuckoo forages mostly from the forest mid-story to the canopy, running along branches and gliding from tree to tree. Its diet is cosmopolitan and includes Anolis lizards, adult and larval insects, mice, nestling birds, and sometimes tree frogs. Young are fed mainly with lizards.[5]
Breedingedit
The Jamaican lizard cuckoo's breeding season generally spans from March to August, though courtship has been observed in October. It makes a flat platform nest of twigs lined with leaves, placed well hidden in a tangle of branches or bromeliads. Both adults incubate the eggs and care for nestlings.[5]
Songs and calls
Listen to Jamaican lizard cuckoo on xeno-canto
Vocalizationedit
The Jamaican lizard cuckoo's principal vocalization is a "[r]apid, low 'cak-cak-cak-ka-ka-ka-k-k'."[5]
Statusedit
The IUCN has assessed the Jamaican lizard cuckoo as being of Least Concern, though it has a rather small range and an unknown population size that is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified.[1] It is widespread on the island but uncommon, and "further research is required to determine various aspects of its breeding."[5]
Referencesedit
^ abBirdLife International (2018). "Jamaican Lizard-cuckoo Coccyzus vetula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22684399A130096625. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22684399A130096625.en. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
^ abGill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P., eds. (August 2022). "Turacos, bustards, cuckoos, mesites, sandgrouse". IOC World Bird List. v 12.2. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^"Check-list of North and Middle American Birds". American Ornithological Society. August 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ abcdefgPayne, R. B. (2020). Jamaican Lizard-Cuckoo (Coccyzus vetula), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.jamlic1.01 retrieved September 26, 2022
Further readingedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coccyzus vetula.
Raffaele, Herbert; James Wiley, Orlando Garrido, Allan Keith & Janis Raffaele (2003) Birds of the West Indies, Christopher Helm, London.
April 12, 2024
jamaican, lizard, cuckoo, coccyzus, vetula, species, bird, tribe, phaenicophaeini, subfamily, cuculinae, cuckoo, family, cuculidae, endemic, jamaica, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, . The Jamaican lizard cuckoo Coccyzus vetula is a species of bird in the tribe Phaenicophaeini subfamily Cuculinae of the cuckoo family Cuculidae It is endemic to Jamaica 2 3 Jamaican lizard cuckooConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder CuculiformesFamily CuculidaeGenus CoccyzusSpecies C vetulaBinomial nameCoccyzus vetula Linnaeus 1758 SynonymsCuculus vetula Linnaeus 1758 Saurothera vetula Linnaeus 1758 Contents 1 Taxonomy and systematics 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behavior 4 1 Movement 4 2 Feeding 4 3 Breeding 4 4 Vocalization 5 Status 6 References 7 Further readingTaxonomy and systematics editThe Jamaican lizard cuckoo and three other lizard cuckoos were for a time considered a single species Individually they were previously placed in genus Saurothera that was later merged into the current Coccyzus and they are considered a superspecies 4 The Jamaican lizard cuckoo is monotypic 2 Description editThe Jamaican lizard cuckoo is 38 to 40 cm 15 to 16 in long about half of which is the tail and weighs 86 to 105 g 3 0 to 3 7 oz It has a long straight rectangular bill with a black maxilla and a paler mandible The sexes have the same plumage Adults have a brown forehead crown to below the eye and nape Their upperparts are grayish with rufous primaries Their throat is whitish and the rest of the underparts are rufous that is lighter on the undertail coverts Their tail feathers are gray with wide white tips the central pair have a black band above the tip Their eye is surrounded by bare red skin Juveniles have narrower tail feathers than adults and buffy tips on the secondaries 5 Distribution and habitat editThe Jamaican lizard cuckoo is found throughout the island from sea level to 1 200 m 3 900 ft of elevation It primarily inhabits lowland tropical evergreen forest and is also found in tropical deciduous forest more open woodlands and semi arid landscapes of trees and shrubs 5 Behavior editMovement edit The Jamaican lizard cuckoo is not migratory 5 Feeding edit The Jamaican lizard cuckoo forages mostly from the forest mid story to the canopy running along branches and gliding from tree to tree Its diet is cosmopolitan and includes Anolis lizards adult and larval insects mice nestling birds and sometimes tree frogs Young are fed mainly with lizards 5 Breeding edit The Jamaican lizard cuckoo s breeding season generally spans from March to August though courtship has been observed in October It makes a flat platform nest of twigs lined with leaves placed well hidden in a tangle of branches or bromeliads Both adults incubate the eggs and care for nestlings 5 nbsp Songs and callsListen to Jamaican lizard cuckoo on xeno canto Vocalization edit The Jamaican lizard cuckoo s principal vocalization is a r apid low cak cak cak ka ka ka k k 5 Status editThe IUCN has assessed the Jamaican lizard cuckoo as being of Least Concern though it has a rather small range and an unknown population size that is believed to be decreasing No immediate threats have been identified 1 It is widespread on the island but uncommon and further research is required to determine various aspects of its breeding 5 References edit a b BirdLife International 2018 Jamaican Lizard cuckoo Coccyzus vetula IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T22684399A130096625 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 2 RLTS T22684399A130096625 en Retrieved 26 September 2022 a b Gill F Donsker D Rasmussen P eds August 2022 Turacos bustards cuckoos mesites sandgrouse IOC World Bird List v 12 2 Retrieved August 8 2022 HBW and BirdLife International 2021 Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world Version 6 Available at http datazone birdlife org userfiles file Species Taxonomy HBW BirdLife Checklist v6 Dec21 zip retrieved August 7 2022 Check list of North and Middle American Birds American Ornithological Society August 2022 Retrieved August 9 2022 a b c d e f g Payne R B 2020 Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo Coccyzus vetula version 1 0 In Birds of the World J del Hoyo A Elliott J Sargatal D A Christie and E de Juana Editors Cornell Lab of Ornithology Ithaca NY USA https doi org 10 2173 bow jamlic1 01 retrieved September 26 2022Further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coccyzus vetula Raffaele Herbert James Wiley Orlando Garrido Allan Keith amp Janis Raffaele 2003 Birds of the West Indies Christopher Helm London Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jamaican lizard cuckoo amp oldid 1112498029, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
