Yellow-Billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus Americanus) Torrey Wenger

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) Torrey Wenger

Metzger Marsh, Lucas Co., OH 5/8/2009 © Willie McHale This species sponsored in memory of Peter Wolfe, by Joan & Willard Wolfe (Click to view a comparison of Atlas I to II)

The dapper Yellow-billed Cuckoo suffers from and possibly breeding in 35% of townships, compared to 31% during MBBA I. All three a public image problem. First, it's reclusive and sections of the state showed slight increases, shy, often “freezing” when an observer is with the smallest difference in the UP. Yellow- nearby. Second, it is often painted with the billed Cuckoos become less common in the same brush as its Old World cousin, the northern reaches of the state. European Cuckoo. While the Yellow-billed Cuckoo will occasionally leave an egg in A confounding factor is the similarity of another bird's nest, the female most commonly Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos in builds her own nest and incubates her own eggs voice and even appearance (Sandilands 2007a, (Hughes 1999). In addition, birdwatchers easily 2007b; Peterjohn and Rice 1991, Keller 1998). confuse it with the Black-billed Cuckoo. The While questionable records were verified, most Yellow-billed Cuckoo is a fascinating bird that cuckoo observations were accepted as deserves droves of fans. submitted.

Distribution Breeding Biology The Yellow-billed Cuckoo can be found in the A typical cuckoo nest is well-concealed and eastern two-thirds of the United States with contains up to five (typically only two or three) scattered populations west to the Pacific and pale blue-green eggs. Each egg is about 14% of north into Canada. In the West, it is restricted to the mass of the female, representing a third or riparian corridors. Cuckoos spend the winter in more of her daily energy intake (Hughes 1999). South America, migrating primarily at night. Incubation takes nine to 11 days. The altricial They arrive on the breeding grounds late and nestlings are extremely robust and can perch at leave early (Hughes 1999). two days old (Hughes 1999). On day seven, the pin feathers burst open and within two hours, The Yellow-billed Cuckoo's distribution across the nestling is fully feathered; it will leave the Michigan has remained stable and even nest the following day, although it will not be increased slightly compared to the first Atlas in able to fly until it is 21 days old (Hughes 1999). the 1980s. The map is virtually unchanged, especially in the SLP. The cuckoo was present

Timing of the nesting attempt is dependent on observations ranged between 0.17-0.50. A local prey availability. In Michigan, two broods long-term study at Fort Custer Training Center are possible. Nests often contain eggs and (FCTC) near Battle Creek shows a similar young at various stages of development. One erratic pattern, with the proportion of Yellow- adult will attend the first fledged young, leaving billed Cuckoos ranging from 0.27% in 1999 to the second adult with the remaining nestlings 1.0% in 2008 (Miller et al. 2008, 2009). (Hughes 1999). However, the patterns do not match; the Nest parasitism is apparently rare. Females may population changes at FCTC are not indicative lay eggs in the nests of other Yellow-billed of the population state-wide. Since insect Cuckoos during years of high food abundance outbreaks are local, affecting only portions of but rarely lay eggs in the nests of other birds. the state at a time, cuckoo population increases The most common interspecific host is the will be local as well. It cannot be ruled out that Black-billed Cuckoo (Hughes 1999). Black- these apparent increases are primarily a billed Cuckoos also occasionally lay eggs in redistribution of the population into areas with Yellow-billed Cuckoo nests. more food resources (Eastman 1991).

Abundance and Population Trends Conservation Needs Yellow-billed Cuckoo populations have More research is needed on nearly every aspect declined nationwide and regionally (Sauer et al. of the cuckoo’s life history. Very little is known 2008). Western states like California and about the Yellow-billed Cuckoo as they do not Nevada are in danger of losing their cuckoos or lend themselves to study. The young leave the have already lost them (Hughes 1999, nest at nine days old and the degree of parental McKernan and Braden 2001). Michigan seems care required until they are fully independent is to be gaining cuckoos, although the BBS data not known. Adults wander prior to establishing do not yield any significant trends (Sauer et al. breeding territories; population structure and 2008). dynamics are poorly understood. This bird prefers open forests and clearings with dense Fewer breeding attempts were confirmed during undergrowth. In the West, it is restricted to MBBA II as compared to MBBA I. This may riparian corridors but it uses a greater variety of not be indicative of a decrease in nesting habitats in the East. Laymon and Halterman attempts or lower nesting success. More (1989) found that habitat loss was the largest emphasis was placed on documenting all the cause of population decline in California and species present in the survey area than on western Arizona: Are Western/riparian finding an active nest in MBBA II (Kalamazoo management recommendations applicable to Nature Center 2004). Michigan and the Great Lakes states?

Cuckoos are adapted to exploit insect outbreaks, Several issues are tied into dietary needs. As an including those of hairy caterpillars unpalatable insectivore, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is to most other birds (Hughes 1999). Cuckoo vulnerable to sublethal and sometimes lethal numbers are strongly influenced by local prey effects of pesticides (Hughes 1999). When abundance (Hughes 1999). An area with a caterpillar outbreaks are controlled chemically, caterpillar outbreak may support dozens of this decreases the food available to cuckoos; the cuckoos one year and have only a few birds the importance of outbreak-induced population next. During the Atlas period (2002 to 2008), increases for long-term population growth is the number of Yellow-billed Cuckoo unknown. Insect emergence is cued by observations as a percentage of all bird temperature; the migratory cues for the cuckoo

© 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) Torrey Wenger are not known but as in other Neotropical 2007 field season and 1997-2007 summary migrants are likely to include day length. report. Report submitted to Michigan Dept. Warming trends mean that cuckoo arrival could of Military Affairs. Kalamazoo Nature become mis-timed to insect emergence, thus Center: Kalamazoo, MI. creating a decrease in food available. Miller, M.E., J. Brenneman, J. Baldy, T. Wenger, R.J. Adams Jr. 2009. Avian Field Yellow-billed Cuckoos are fascinating birds that Studies at the Army National Guard Fort will benefit from an increase in amateur interest Custer Training Center, Augusta, Michigan: and scientific research. 2008 Field Season. Report submitted to Michigan Department of Military Affairs. Literature Cited Kalamazoo Nature Center. Kalamazoo, MI. Peterjohn, B.G., and D.L. Rice. 1991. The Eastman, J. 1991. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, pp. Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas. Ohio Department 234-235 In Brewer, R., G.A. McPeek, and of Natural Resources. Columbus, OH. R.J. Adams Jr. (eds.) The Atlas of Breeding Sandilands, A. 2007a. Black-billed Cuckoo. In Birds of Michigan. Michigan State Cadman, M.D., D.A. Sutherland, G.G. Beck, University Press. East Lansing, MI. D. Lepage, and A.R. Couturier, eds. Atlas of Hughes, J.M. 1999. Yellow-billed Cuckoo the Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001-2005. (Coccyzus americanus). In The Birds of Bird Studies Canada, Environment Canada, North America, no. 418 (A. Poole and F. Ontario Field Ornithologists, Ontario Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Ministry of Natural Resources, and Ontario Inc. Philadelphia, PA. Nature. Toronto, ON. Kalamazoo Nature Center. 2004. Michigan Sandilands, A. 2007b. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Breeding Bird Atlas II Handbook. In Cadman, M.D., D.A. Sutherland, G.G. Keller, T.C. 1998. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. In Beck, D. Lepage, and A.R. Couturier, eds. Castrale, J.S., E.M. Hopkins, and C.E. Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, Keller. Atlas of Breeding Birds of Indiana. 2001-2005. Bird Studies Canada, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Environment Canada, Ontario Field Division of Fish and Wildlife, Nongame and Ornithologists, Ontario Ministry of Natural Endangered Wildlife Program. Indianapolis, Resources, and Ontario Nature. Toronto, IN. ON. Laymon, S.A., and M.D. Halterman. 1989. A Sauer, J.R., J.E. Hines, and J. Fallon. 2008. proposed habitat management plan for The North American breeding bird survey, Yellow-billed Cuckoo in California. USDA results and analysis 1966-2007. Version Forest Service General Technical Report 5.15.2008. USGS Patuxent Wildlife PSW-110: 272-277. Research Center. Laurel, MD. McKernan, R.L., and G.T. Braden. 2001. The status of Yuma Clapper Rail and Yellow- Suggested Citation billed Cuckoo along portions of Virgin River, Muddy River, and Las Vegas Wash, Wenger, T. 2010. Yellow-billed Cuckoo Southern Nevada, 2000. Report to USFWS (Coccyzus americanus). In Chartier, A.T., Southern Nevada Field Office and Southern J.J. Baldy, and J.M. Brenneman (eds.). 2010. Nevada Water Authority. The Second Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. Miller, M. E., R. J. Adams, Jr., J. Brenneman, T. Kalamazoo Nature Center. Kalamazoo, MI. Wenger, and J. Baldy. 2008. Avian field Accessed online at: . Custer Training Center, Augusta, Michigan: