Photo: dominic sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Great Lizard Cuckoo
Coccyzus merlini
Great Lizard Cuckoo (Coccyzus merlini) — Cuckoos & Turacos of North America.
The Great Lizard Cuckoo (Coccyzus merlini) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 170 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Cuculiformes
- Family Cuculidae Cuckoos
- Genus Coccyzus
- Species merlini
Quick facts
- Weight
- 170 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Great Lizard Cuckoo is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Great Lizard Cuckoo is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Great Lizard Cuckoo (Coccyzus merlini) is a member of the Cuculidae family, within the order Cuculiformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA Bahamas and Cuba.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 170 g, with a wing length of about 16.8 cm and a tail of around 26.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 110,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Great Lizard Cuckoo?
The Great Lizard Cuckoo is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 170 g.
Where does the Great Lizard Cuckoo live?
The Great Lizard Cuckoo is found across North America with a range covering NA Bahamas and Cuba, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Great Lizard Cuckoo belong to?
The Great Lizard Cuckoo (Coccyzus merlini) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Great Lizard Cuckoo eat?
The Great Lizard Cuckoo is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Great Lizard Cuckoo migrate?
The Great Lizard Cuckoo is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Great Lizard Cuckoo endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Great Lizard Cuckoo make?
1 real field recording of the Great Lizard Cuckoo — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Great Lizard Cuckoo's range?
The Great Lizard Cuckoo has a mapped global range of about 110,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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