Birds · Cuculiformes · Cuculidae
Cocos Cuckoo
Coccyzus ferrugineus
It faces a high risk of extinction in the wild over the medium term. See full glossary
The Cocos cuckoo is endemic to a volcanic island of 24 square kilometres lying more than 500 kilometres off the coast of Costa Rica. It is reddish brown with a cinnamon belly and moves unobtrusively through the understorey hunting large insects. Unlike many cuckoos, it is not a brood parasite: it builds its own nest and raises its own chicks.
Weight
35 g – 50 g
Size
20 cm – 23 cm
Lifespan
8 years
Diet
Insectivore
Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.
Activity
Diurnal
Active mainly during the day.
Social structure
In pairs
Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.
Sighting difficulty
Moderate
Estimated population
Between 1,000 and 2,500 mature individuals
Fun facts
- The whole species lives on an island of 24 square kilometres more than 500 from the coast: Cocos Island is one of the most isolated tropical oceanic islands in the Pacific and holds several species found nowhere else.
- Unlike the Old World cuckoos, it is not a brood parasite: it builds its own nest and raises its own chicks, like most American cuckoos.
- Cocos Island was part of the inspiration for Isla Nublar in Jurassic Park and has been the scene of dozens of expeditions in search of pirate treasure, all of them fruitless.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
- Habitat & environment
- Dense rainforest of Cocos Island, in the Costa Rican Pacific
- Sexual maturity
- 12 months
- Gestation / incubation
- 14 days of incubation
- Litter / clutch size
- 2 eggs
Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/
Where to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Cocos Cuckoo — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Cocos Tyrannulet
Nesotriccus ridgwayi
Cocos Finch
Pinaroloxias inornata
Smooth-billed Ani
Crotophaga ani
Least ConcernBlue-footed Booby
Sula nebouxii
Least ConcernSooty Tern
Onychoprion fuscatus
Nazca Booby
Sula granti
How to help
The cocos cuckoo is classified as vulnerable. Organizations such as UICN, WWF y Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programs is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 1 real protected area — part of why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about cocos cuckoo.
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