Squirrel Cuckoo
Piaya cayana
Mountains
The Squirrel Cuckoo is a noticeable cuckoo with a long tail and a bright rust color. It is commonly found in tropical lowlands, and sometimes in foothills. It is unique to Mexico and Central America, and can be found in a variety of wooded and forested areas. It usually hunts silently in the middle to upper parts of trees, making it challenging to spot. It can frequently be observed darting across roads, which can elicit a surprise response from observers. The underside of its tail feathers is rust-colored in Western Mexico, but blackish in other locations.
This species can be observed during our bird photography trips in Chocó Andino in Ecuador.
