- Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Identification
28-31cm. Brown head, upperparts, wings and long tail, creamy white underparts, red eye ring, black bill. Juveniles are drabber, and the eye ring is greenish.
Distribution
North America east of the Rockies. They migrate to South America.
Taxonomy
Monotypic.
Habitat
Edges of wooded areas.
Behaviour
The diet includes spiny caterpillars, insects, some snails, eggs of other birds and berries.
It is known occasionally to lay eggs in the nest of other bird species. The young leave the nest 17 days after eggs are laid. Only one brood is raised per year.
Vocalisation
The call is a rapid repetitive Coocoocoo.
