Little Cuckoo Coccycua minuta Scientific name definitions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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”.

Not globally threatened. Rather limited information available about relative abundance: species is uncommon to fairly common throughout much of range; local in Colombia.