Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Cuclillo Piquinegro, Cuclillo pico negro, Black-Billed Cuckoo
Fairly large bird, about 25 cm. Long black tail with white spots. Back grey brown. Top of the head grey and black around the eyes. Pale white to rust belly. Thick curved beak.
Threats It is affected by the parasitic fly Philornis, but the extent and the effects on populations are not known.
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Cuculiformes
Family
Cuculidae
Genus
Coccyzus
Species
erythropthalmus
Taxon category: Accepted
Origin: Vagrant
Preference for an altitude zone in Galapagos: Dry zone - humid zone
Habitat preferences: Mainly closed scrub and woodland.
Trophic role: Herbivorous
Natural enemies: Possibly affected by Philornis (pupae found in nests)
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Common on most of the larger islands and even found on some of the smaller ones such as Plaza Sur, but rare on Santiago, and there is only a single record on Santa Fé in 1906.
- Swash, A. Still, R. (2000) Birds, mammals, and reptiles of the Galapagos Islands, an identification guide. Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, 168 pp.
- Castro, I. Phillips, A. (1996) A Guide to the Birds of the Galapagos Islands. Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd., London.
- Freile, J.F. Santander, T., Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G., Carrasco, L., Cisneros-Heredia, D., Guevara, E., Sánchez-Nivicela, M., Tinoco, B. (2019) Lista Roja de las aves del Ecuador Quito, Ecuador. 97 pp.
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Coccyzus erythropthalmus", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=5066. Accessed 9 June 2025.
Feeding type: Frugivorous
Known to occasionally swallow fruits.