Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

Coccyzus melacoryphus Vieillot, 1817

Cuclillo Piquioscuro, Dark-billed Cuckoo

Dark-billed Cuckoo in Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. Photo: CDF Archive.
Dark-billed Cuckoo in Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. Photo: CDF Archive.

Es una ave de unos 25 cm, con cola larga con puntos blancos, espalda gris a café, cabeza gris con negro alrededor del ojo. Por debajo, blanco ligeramente rojizo. Pico grueso curvo.

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Animalia

Phylum
Chordata

Class
Aves

Order
Cuculiformes

Family
Cuculidae

Genus
Coccyzus

Species
melacoryphus

Taxon category: Accepted

Taxon origin: Native

Status

Least concern

Ecology

Preference for an altitude zone in Galapagos: Coastal zone - transition zone

Habitat preferences: Mainly closed scrub and woodland.

Feeding type: Insectivorous

Also frugivore. Known to occasionally swallow fruits.

Distribution origin: Common on most of the larger islands and even found on some of the smaller ones such as Plaza Sur, but rare on Santiago, and there is only a single record on Santa Fé in 1906.

Natural enemies: Possibly affected by Philornis (pupae found in nests)

Distribution

Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.

Distribution: Although on most of the larger islands.

References

  • Wiedenfeld, D.A. (2006) Aves, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Check List 2006 2(2): 1-27.
  • Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G. Milstead, B., Márquez, C., Zabala, J., Buitrón, P., Llerena, A., et al. (2007) Galapagos vertebrates: endangered status and conservation actions. Galapagos Report 2006–2007. Charles Darwin Foundation, Puerto Ayora, p. 104–110.
  • Harris, M.P. (1973) The Galápagos avifauna. Condor 75(3): 265-278.
  • Fessl, B. Tebbich, S. (2002) Philornis downsi - a recently discovered parasite on the Galápagos archipelago - a threat to Darwin's finches? Ibis 144: 445-451.
  • Swarth, H.S. (1931) The Avifauna of the Galapagos Islands. Occ. Pap. Calif. Acad. Sci. 18: 1-299.
  • Fessl, B. Couri, M.S. & Tebbich, S. (2001) Philornis downsi Dodge & Aitken, new to the Galapagos Islands (Diptera, Muscidae). Studia Dipterologic 8: 317-322.
  • Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G. Betancourt, F. (2008) Avifauna vs automotores. Informe Galápagos 2007-2008. FCD, PNG & INGALA. Puerto Ayora, Ecuador. p. 111–114.
  • Hickin, N. (1979) Animal life of the Galapagos. Ferundune Books, Faringdon, U.K., 236 pp.
  • Bisconti, M. Landini, W., Bianucci, G., Cantalamessa, G., Carnevale, G. Ragaini, L. & Valleri, G. (2001) Biogeographic relationships of the Galapagos terrestrial biota: parsimony analyses of endemicity based on reptiles, land birds and Scalesia land plants. J. Biogeogr. 28: 495-510.
  • Freile, J.F. Santander, T., Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G., Carrasco, L., Cisneros-Heredia, D., Guevara, E., Sánchez-Nivicela, M., Tinoco, B. (2019) Lista Roja de las aves del Ecuador Quito, Ecuador. 97 pp.