Just north of the Village of Arcadia in Cockpit Country, Cornwall State, Jamaica, November 2010
Alternative name: Old Women Bird
- Coccyzus vetula
Saurothera vetula
Identification
40cm.
- Greyish upperparts
- Rufous patch on wings
- Dark brown forehead to nape
- Red orbital skin
- Long, straight bill, black above and paler below
- Whitish throat
- Rufous underparts, paler on undertail-coverts
- Long tail, grey central rectrices with black subterminal band and broad white tip, other feathers black with broad white tips
Sexes similar. Juveniles not described.
Distribution
Endemic to Jamaica.
Generally uncommon in its range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species which some authorities refer to as Saurothera vetula.
Hispaniolan Lizard Cuckoo and Puerto Rican Lizard Cuckoo have been included in this species.
Habitat
Tropical evergreen forest, wooded areas and semi-arid country with trees and shrubs. Occurs from lowlands up to 1200m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on lizards, caterpillars, locusts and nestling birds.
Forages in middle storey and canopy of forests.
Breeding
Copulation and courtship recorded in October. The nest is a flat platform made of twigs and lined with leaves. It's placed in a tangle of branches, twigs and bromeliads in a tree.
Movements
A resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1997. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334221
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Jamaican_Lizard_Cuckoo
