Similar Species
Black-billed Cuckoo
Adult
Black-billed Cuckoos have thin white strips on the underside of the tail while Yellow-billed Cuckoos have large white circles on the tail. Also note bill color differences.
© Christopher Sloan | Macaulay LibraryTennessee, May 13, 2017Similar Species
Mangrove Cuckoo
Adult
Mangrove Cuckoos have peachy washed underparts while Yellow-billed Cuckoos have entirely white underparts.
© Jim de Waal Malefyt | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, April 21, 2016Similar Species
Mourning Dove
Adult
Mourning Doves are plumper, with smaller heads and less lanky proportions than cuckoos.
© Ryan Schain | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 08, 2014Main Species
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Adult
Large, slim birds with a long tail, a long yellow bill, and a hunchbacked appearance. From below, note large white spots on a black tail.
© Benjamin Murphy | Macaulay LibraryIllinois, June 08, 2013Adult
Long, slim bird with a long tail. Brownish above with rusty patches in the wing. From below, note large white spots on a black tail.
© mark kraus | Macaulay LibraryOhio, May 27, 2013Adult
Often forages on tent caterpillars.
© Larry Arbanas | Macaulay LibraryTexasAdult/immature
Long-tailed bird with a curved yellow bill and rusty wing panels.
© David M. Bell | Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, October 25, 2016Adult/immature
Long and long-tailed with large white spots on the underside of the tail.
© Jeff Bryant | Macaulay LibraryIllinois, May 28, 2017Habitat
Found mainly among the canopies of deciduous trees; look for them in woodland patches with gaps and clearings.
© Luke Thompson | Macaulay LibraryTennessee, May 28, 2017