Pheasant Cuckoo (Dromococcyx phasianellus)

Order: Cuculiformes   | Family: Cuculidae  | IUCN Status: Least Concern

pheasant_cuckoo
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Eastern Ecuador

pheasant_cuckoo
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonian Brazil

pheasant_cuckoo
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonian Brazil

pheasant_cuckoo
Age: Adult | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Amazonian Brazil


Identification & Behavior: ~39 cm (15.3 in). The Pheasant Cuckoo is overall gray with a pale belly. The throat and breast are brownish with dark specks. It has a pale superciliary line from the base of the culmen to the nape and a rufous crest. The tail is long, broad, and graduated. It has extremely long and ornate rump feathers and uppertail coverts.  It forages on the ground where it extends the wings and tail to flush insects before it chases and catches them. It is very similar to the Pavonine Cuckoo but is distinguished by larger size, mostly gray head and neck, and black spots on the breast.

Status: The Pheasant Cuckoo is rare and difficult to see as it does not move much and remains inconspicuous. It favors Terra Firme forests and is known to range at elevations of up to 1000 m along the foothill of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Cuco Faisán.

Sub-species: Pheasant Cuckoo (Dromococcyx phasianellus), (Spix), 1824.

Meaning of Name: Dromococcyx: Gr. Dromas= runner and kokkux= cuckoo. phasianellus: L. diminutive of phasianus= pheasant, small pheasant.

See more of the Family Cuculidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
pheasant cuckooVoice


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 08/01/2015.