Little Cuckoo Coccycua minuta Scientific name definitions
Text last updated September 19, 2013
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Species names in all available languages
Language | Common name |
---|---|
Catalan | cucut esquirol menut |
Czech | kukačka amazonská |
Dutch | Kleine Eekhoornkoekoek |
English | Little Cuckoo |
English (United States) | Little Cuckoo |
French | Petit Piaye |
French (France) | Petit Piaye |
German | Rötelkuckuck |
Japanese | ヒメリスカッコウ |
Norwegian | alvegjøk |
Polish | kukawczyk rdzawy |
Portuguese (Brazil) | chincoã-pequeno |
Portuguese (Portugal) | Chincoã-pequeno |
Russian | Малая пиайя |
Serbian | Crvena kukavica |
Slovak | kukavka malá |
Spanish | Cuco Ardilla Menor |
Spanish (Ecuador) | Cuco Menudo |
Spanish (Panama) | Cuco Enano |
Spanish (Paraguay) | Tingazú chico |
Spanish (Peru) | Cuco Menudo |
Spanish (Spain) | Cuco ardilla menor |
Spanish (Venezuela) | Piscuita Enana |
Swedish | pygmégök |
Turkish | Küçük Sincap Guguğu |
Ukrainian | Піая мала |
Coccycua minuta (Vieillot, 1817)
Definitions
- COCCYCUA
- minuta
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Introduction
Although widespread in both Amazonia and chocó forest, Little Cuckoo is fairly uncommon and often difficult to see. They inhabit the thick lower growth of woodlands and forest edges, frequently occurring near water. Up to five or six subspecies have been described, although a recent review of geographic variation recommended the recognition of only two subspecies: C. m. minuta, which is darker overall and occurs in Amazonia, and C. m. gracilis, which is generally paler and occurs in the chocó west of the Andes. Little Cuckoo is most similar in appearance to Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana), but is much smaller and has a proportionately shorter tail. Indeed, for many years the Little Cuckoo also was classified as another species of Piaya, although genetic evidence reveals that the Little Cuckoo is more closely related to the Dwarf Cuckoo (Coccycua pumila) and the Ash-colored Cuckoo (Coccycua cinerea). Little Cuckoo also usually skulks though low undergrowth, whereas Squirrel Cuckoo inhabits the upper stories.
Field Identification
25 cm; 40 g. Adult chestnut above , throat and breast rufous-chestnut, belly dark buffy-grey, tail with white terminal spots ; eye-ring red, iris red , bill greyish yellow with dusky tip, feet dull blue to greyish black. Juvenile grey-brown above, darker grey below, wings rufous or blackish, no white on tail, iris brown, bill dark to black, feet black. Race <em>gracilis</em> paler on throat and breast with particularly pale area around base of bill.
Systematics History
Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.
Previously placed in Piaya, but molecular data indicate it belongs in present genus (1). Race chaparensis often included in nominate; proposed race barinensis (W Venezuela) included in nominate. Four subspecies recognized.Subspecies
Coccycua minuta panamensis Scientific name definitions
Distribution
Coccycua minuta panamensis (Todd, 1912)
Definitions
- COCCYCUA
- minuta
- panama / panamense / panamensis
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Coccycua minuta barinensis Scientific name definitions
Distribution
Coccycua minuta barinensis (Aveledo H & Pérez-E, 1994)
Definitions
- COCCYCUA
- minuta
- barinensis
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Coccycua minuta gracilis Scientific name definitions
Distribution
Coccycua minuta gracilis (Heine, 1863)
Definitions
- COCCYCUA
- minuta
- gracilis
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Coccycua minuta minuta Scientific name definitions
Distribution
Coccycua minuta minuta (Vieillot, 1817)
Definitions
- COCCYCUA
- minuta
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Coccycua minuta chaparensis Scientific name definitions
Distribution
Coccycua minuta chaparensis (Cherrie, 1916)
Definitions
- COCCYCUA
- minuta
- chaparensis
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Distribution
Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.
Habitat
Inhabits tropical lowland evergreen forest edge, secondary forest, clearings, mature mangroves, river-edge forest, typically in dense, low vegetation; thickets, dense canebrakes, vines, shrubby second growth, pastures, often near water or in marshy areas ; mainly coastal and on major rivers in Guianas. Sea-level to 900+ m, occasionally to 1600 m in Colombia, to 2000 m in Venezuela.
Movement
Diet and Foraging
Sounds and Vocal Behavior
Harsh clucks, “tchek” , like a tree frog; sharp “quienk”, a nasal chattering “aannh anhh-anhy-anhh”, a low whistled “tyoooooo”, a weak, hoarse “geep, were”.
Breeding
Conservation Status
Not globally threatened. Rather limited information available about relative abundance: species is uncommon to fairly common throughout much of range; local in Colombia.