Photo: dominic sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo
Coccyzus vetula
Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo (Coccyzus vetula) — Cuckoos & Turacos of North America.
The Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo (Coccyzus vetula) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 96 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 vetula
Quick facts
- Weight
- 96 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo (Coccyzus vetula) belongs to the Cuculidae family of the order Cuculiformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA Jamaica.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 96 g, with a wing length of about 12.1 cm and a tail of around 17.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 11,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo?
The Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 96 g.
Where does the Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo live?
The Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo is found across North America with a range covering NA Jamaica, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo belong to?
The Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo (Coccyzus vetula) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo eat?
The Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo migrate?
The Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Jamaican 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 Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo make?
1 real field recording of the Jamaican 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 Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo's range?
The Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo has a mapped global range of about 11,000 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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