In Central America, there is a bird that stands out with its striking suit of red and brown, elegantly finished off by its long, graceful tail – the Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana). This large and active species of cuckoo boasts an extremely long tail, measuring 40.5 to 50 centimeters long (15.9 to 19.7 inches), and weighs in at 95 to 120 grams (3.4 to 4.2 ounces). Adult birds display mainly chestnut upperparts and head, becoming softer, almost soft pink on the throat. The lower breast is gray, the belly almost black, and the central tail feathers rufous, with the outer ones having white tips. Its bill is yellow, and its eyes are red.
The Squirrel Cuckoo can be found from northwestern Mexico to northern Argentina and Uruguay, as well as Trinidad.
These birds prefer to live in forests and woodlands, residing in the canopy and along forest edges. They can also be found in coffee plantations, shrubbery, pastures with trees, areas along watercourses in dry regions, and even in residential areas, though they tend to avoid dry wooded areas.
The Squirrel Cuckoo primarily feeds on insects, cicadas, wasps, and caterpillars, occasionally supplementing its diet with spiders and small lizards. Very rarely, it may eat fruit.
During the breeding season, the Squirrel Cuckoo builds a shallow cup-shaped nest from sticks and leaves in dense foliage or trees. The female lays up to 3 eggs, which are incubated by both the male and female for around 18 to 20 days. The chicks are cared for and fed by both parents as well.
Fortunately, the Squirrel Cuckoo is plentiful in most of its range and appears to be quite tolerant of human disturbance, as long as its woodland habitat remains intact. This stunning bird is truly a sight to behold and adds to the rich biodiversity of the Central American region.
