Diet
What do yellow-billed cuckoos eat?
Hairy caterpillars — including tent caterpillars — other insects and fruit.
Cuckoos (Cuculidae)Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanus
Spring and summer diet
- Tent caterpillars, cicadas, katydids and beetles
Fall and winter diet
- Migrates to South America
Best feeder foods
- None — leave tent caterpillars for them
Called the 'rain crow' for calling before storms; one of few birds that eats hairy caterpillars in bulk.
Frequently asked
What do yellow-billed cuckoos eat?
Hairy caterpillars — including tent caterpillars — other insects and fruit.
What is the best food to feed yellow-billed cuckoos?
None — leave tent caterpillars for them.
What do yellow-billed cuckoos eat in winter?
Migrates to South America.
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
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.