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The Curved-Billed Song Birds, particularly the Cuckoos, of which their are three in North America, are all three elongated birds with long, spotted tails. Two of these species, those that are named for the color of their bills (Yellow or Black) are spread throughout the south west. The third species, the Mangrove Cuckoo is only found among the coastal mangroves within southwest Florida.
All three of the Cuckoo family species are in the Order Cuculiformes, the Family Cuculidae and the Genus Coccyzus.
Other birds in the same order Cuculiformes include the anis, couas, coucals, koels, malkohas and roadrunners.
Mangrove Cuckoo
This species of cuckoo is native to the Neotropics, that which comprises Central and South America.
Conservation Status:
LC
Order:
Cuculiformes
Family:
Cuculidae
Genus:
Coccyzus
Species:
minor
Description
Adults have a long tail, brown above and black-and-white below, and a black curved bill with yellow on the lower mandible. The head and upper parts are brown. There is a yellow ring around the eye. This bird is best distinguished by its black facial mask and buffy under body.
The feet are zygodactylous, meaning two forward and to rearward.
Length:
12 inches
Habitat
Dense mangrove swamps and coastal lowlands.
Range
The Mangrove Cuckoo is found within the United states only in the bottom of Florida where it is a permanent resident of the dense mangrove swamps.
The range of this cuckoo continues southward throughout the Caribbean Island to the South America and then eastward down the northeast side of that continent. The Mangrove Cuckoo are very localized in Cuba, especially on the north cays.
Other of the Mangrove Cuckoo are found along the coastal lowlands of both the east and west coasts of Central America from upper Mexico to Panama.
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