Black-billed Cuckoo

Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) is in the Cuckoos family (Cuculidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,395 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Black-billed Cuckoo: observations by month (U.S.)

About Black-billed Cuckoo

The black-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) is a New World species in the Cuculidae (cuckoo) family. The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus name kokkuzo, means to call like a common cuckoo, and erythropthalmus is from eruthros, "red" and ophthalmos, "eye".From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Black-billed Cuckoo by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (Cuckoos)

Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianus

Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanus

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
• Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
• Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
• Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ