Yellow-billed Cuckoos in California
When yellow-billed cuckoos are present in California, when they nest, which native California plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–11a yard.
- Status in California
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–August
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–11a
- Range note
- Endangered riparian population along the lower Colorado and Sacramento.
When to expect yellow-billed cuckoos in California
Yellow-billed Cuckoos are summer residents in California, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Endangered riparian population along the lower Colorado and Sacramento.
Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.
Nesting in California
Across California, yellow-billed cuckoos typically nest from April–August. Plan around that window: March for setup, August for clean-out.
Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.
- Yellow-billed Cuckoos don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, chokecherry, red-osier dogwood for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native California plants that attract yellow-billed cuckoos
Of the regional native plants we track for California, these 8 provide food or cover yellow-billed cuckoos use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.
Tart red fruit that persists into winter.
Feeding yellow-billed cuckoos through the California year
- Top foods: None — leave tent caterpillars for them.
- In California's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for yellow-billed cuckoos · Best feeder for yellow-billed cuckoos
Frequently asked
Are yellow-billed cuckoos in California year-round?
No. Yellow-billed Cuckoos are summer breeders in California and leave for the winter. Endangered riparian population along the lower Colorado and Sacramento.
When do yellow-billed cuckoos nest in California?
Nesting in California typically runs April–August, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 1–5 eggs, incubated for 9–11 days.
What native plants attract yellow-billed cuckoos in California?
Smooth sumac, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Ponderosa pine, Golden currant, Western serviceberry, Buffaloberry are native plants in California that provide food or cover for yellow-billed cuckoos.
Yellow-billed Cuckoos in other regions
Other backyard birds in California
Sources
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — California
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
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.