Perch Supply
Cuckoos (Cuculidae)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus. Hairy caterpillars — including tent caterpillars — other insects and fruit.

Cuckoos (Cuculidae)Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanus
Scientific name
Coccyzus americanus
Length
10.6–11.8 in
Weight
1.9–2.3 oz
Nest
Flimsy stick platform in a shrub or low tree
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
1–5 eggs
Incubation
9–11 days
Broods
1–2 per season

Identification

  • Slim, long-tailed bird with a yellow lower bill
  • Bold white tail spots below
  • Rufous flash in the wings

Voice

A hollow, knocking 'kowlp-kowlp-kowlp' slowing at the end.

Diet and feeding

Hairy caterpillars — including tent caterpillars — other insects and fruit.

What do yellow-billed cuckoos eat? · Best feeder for yellow-billed cuckoos

Yellow-billed Cuckoos by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaSummer breederApril–August
ArizonaSummer breederApril–August
ArkansasSummer breederMay–August
CaliforniaSummer breederApril–August
ConnecticutSummer breederMay–August
DelawareSummer breederMay–August
FloridaSummer breederApril–August
GeorgiaSummer breederApril–August
IllinoisSummer breederMay–August
IndianaSummer breederMay–August
IowaSummer breederMay–August
KansasSummer breederMay–August
KentuckySummer breederMay–August
LouisianaSummer breederApril–August
MaineSummer breederJune–August
MarylandSummer breederMay–August
MassachusettsSummer breederMay–August
MichiganSummer breederMay–August
MinnesotaSummer breederJune–August
MississippiSummer breederApril–August
MissouriSummer breederMay–August
NebraskaSummer breederMay–August
New HampshireSummer breederJune–August
New JerseySummer breederMay–August
New MexicoSummer breederMay–August
New YorkSummer breederMay–August
North CarolinaSummer breederMay–August
North DakotaSummer breederJune–August
OhioSummer breederMay–August
OklahomaSummer breederMay–August
OntarioSummer breederJune–August
PennsylvaniaSummer breederMay–August
Rhode IslandSummer breederMay–August
South CarolinaSummer breederApril–August
South DakotaSummer breederMay–August
TennesseeSummer breederMay–August
TexasSummer breederApril–August
VermontSummer breederJune–August
VirginiaSummer breederMay–August
West VirginiaSummer breederMay–August
WisconsinSummer breederJune–August

Frequently asked

What do yellow-billed cuckoos eat?

Hairy caterpillars — including tent caterpillars — other insects and fruit. At feeders: none — leave tent caterpillars for them.

How big is a Yellow-billed Cuckoo?

10.6–11.8 in long and 1.9–2.3 oz.

Do yellow-billed cuckoos use birdhouses?

No. Flimsy stick platform in a shrub or low tree.

Sources

  1. Yellow-billed Cuckoo — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Yellow-billed Cuckoo life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Yellow-billed Cuckoo — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.