Cuckoos in Texas – A Hat Trick

Cuckoos in Texas are common visitors to the state. They are a long distant migrants that overwinter in most of South America. During the spring many pass-through Texas on their way north and east to breeding areas as far north as Canada. However, some remain and breed over most of the state.

There are three species of cuckoo regularly occurring in the United States. Only two are regularly found in Texas.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is by far the most common species found in Texas. As its name indicates, this species sports a fairly long, curved, mostly yellow bill. Like the other cuckoos in Texas, they are long tailed and slim bodied. They forage mainly in the canopy for caterpillars. Cuckoos are somewhat secretive and sometimes hard to find. They can usually be located by a loud distinctive call. The Yellow-billed cuckoo nests in Texas.

Black-billed Cuckoo

Structurally very similar to the Yellow-billed cuckoo. This cuckoo has a thinner, all black bill and has a red orbital ring. The tail feathers are tipped in white unlike the Yellow-billed cuckoo that has large white spots on the tail instead. The Black billed cuckoo is not a breeder in Texas and sightings are limited to migrants passing through the state.

Mangrove Cuckoo

The mangrove Cuckoo is a very rare visitor to the state. Most sightings are limited to the Lower Rio Grande Valley with a scant few further north. The Mangrove Cuckoo most closely resembles the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. However, the bill is bicolored with the lower mandible yellow and the upper mandible solid black. The chest and belly are a light to rich peach color and the bird wears a dark eye mask.

The “HAT TRICK” (three successes of the same kind)

During the spring migration of 2023 I was fortunate enough to score all three cuckoos. While the Yellow-billed is easily encountered, the Black-billed is much more sporadic in nature in my area – The Upper Gulf Coast. A combination of strong easterly winds may have contributed to the unusual number of sightings during the final week of April. Black-billed cuckoos are not something I encounter every year. However, I was fortunate enough this spring to encounter them on three separate occasions.

Satisfied with snagging the two cuckoos during migration, I became aware that a Mangrove Cuckoo had been sighted on the east end of Galveston Island on the 12th of May. The bird was being reported again for a second day and on the morning of the third day, I decided to try and find it. A 40-minute drive to Galveston put me on the beach on a rainy cloudy afternoon. Within just a few moments I was in luck! The Mangrove Cuckoo is a very handsome bird and I managed to get a few photos that I was happy with.

The Mangrove Cuckoo was last sighted in Galveston county on the Bolivar Peninsula in early January of 1982. After a very long hiatus, the visit was much appreciated .

For more info on the life history of the Cuckoos in Texas visit this link.

Look for other articles on Texas birds like this one here.