<< Previous Next >>

Squirrel Cuckoo


Squirrel Cuckoo
Photo Information
Copyright: Jesus Linares (jlinaresp) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 413 W: 14 N: 809] (3095)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-06-24
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon SX 110 IS
Exposure: f/4.3, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-06-24 15:46
Viewed: 342
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Spanish]
Squirrel Cuckoo:

As you can see, these photos are not very technical, but I wanted to publish them because the bird species (Piaya cayana) becomes increasingly difficult to find in our region.

20 years ago, these birds were relatively common, even they could see in the villages, today I had to walk about 3 km inside forest, to meet this specimen. I fear that the gradual destruction of their habitat to be turned into arable land and livestock, has seriously affected the population density of this species.

However, I am glad to know that in other places is still abundant, at least that's what they say several web pages you visit on this bird.

Anyway, this picture then, portrays a squirrel cuckoo in their habitat in the forest, about 30 meters away, so I had to use all of my zoom compact camera.


FROM WIKIPEDIA:

The Squirrel Cuckoo, Piaya cayana, is a cuckoo breeding from northwestern Mexico to northern Argentina and Uruguay, and on Trinidad.

This large species is 43-46 cm long and weighs 95-105 g. The adult has mainly chestnut upperparts and head, becoming paler on the throat. The lower breast is grey and the belly is blackish. The central tail feathers are rufous, but the outer are black with white tips. The bill is yellow and the iris is red. Immature birds have a grey bill and eyering, brown iris, and less white in the tail.

There are a number of subspecies with minor plumage variations. For example, P. c. mehleri, a South American subspecies, has mainly brown (not black) outer tail feathers. Additionally, the subspecies from Mexico, Central America, and northern and western South America have a yellow eye-ring, but this is red in the remaining part of South America.

It makes explosive kip! and kip! weeuu calls, and the song is a whistled wheep wheep wheep wheep.

The Squirrel Cuckoo is found in woodland canopy and edges, second growth, hedges and semi-open habitats from sea level to as high as 2500 m altitude, although it is uncommon above 1200 m. This species’ English name derives from its habit of running along branches and leaping from branch to branch like a squirrel. It normally flies only short distances, mainly gliding with an occasional flap.

It feeds on large insects such as cicadas, wasps and caterpillars (including those with stinging hairs or spines), and occasionally spiders and small lizards, rarely taking fruit. Its static prey is typically taken off the foliage with a quick lunge, but wasps may be picked out of the air. Squirrel cuckoos are often observed to forage peacefully alongside small mammals such as Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) during the dry season. In particular, they can be seen to attend army ant columns together, picking off prey flushed by the ants, and occasionally will join mixed-species feeding flocks.

The nest is a cup of leaves on a twig foundation, hidden in dense vegetation 1-12 m high in a tree. The female lays two white eggs
jaycee, CeltickRanger, ramthakur, briGG, kedarkulkarni, boreocypriensis has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To haraprasan: RE: Titlejlinaresp 1 06-25 05:33
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-06-24 16:08]

Hi Jesus,

I didn't know there was such a bird!! Two nice shots showing both sides of the Squirrel Cuckoo. I love the tail feathers on the upper picture and the wonderful yellow eye ring on the lower. The bird's colors are lovely although they don't match the description in your notes. The leaves make a nice background.

Jane

hello Jesús

excellent photomontage of 2 photos of this exotic (to us) and beautiful bird,
i love this kinf of photo Jesús where you see with the bird
his environement and habitat, you are shwoing it in a excellent way,

TFS

Asbed

Despite the long distance and the limitations of your camera, you have shown us the features of this curious bird quite effectively, Jesus. Your concern for their habitat is genuine; this is happening all over the world these days.
Thanks for sharing this picture of a species of threatened birds from you country.
Ram

  • Great 
  • briGG Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 171 W: 2 N: 272] (1383)
  • [2009-06-25 0:10]

hello Jesús

merci pour ces deux photos intéressantes.
les couleurs de l'animal, permettent ŕ celui-ci de se détacher du fond végétal!
merci de nous faire partage ces photos!

brigitte

Hi Jesus,
Two nice captures of this beautiful Squirrel Cuckoo bird. Good details. But please correct the title from Aquirrel to Squirrel ;>. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Jesus,

With the said limitations, you have captured it nicely. Nice bird it is.

TFS,
Kedar

Hi MF Jesus, a fine collage of this rarely seen beauty from wonderful details in its natural environment.
TFS and cheers,
Bayram

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1930 W: 6 N: 5388] (19222)
  • [2009-06-25 15:22]

Hi Jesus,very interesting work about this unknown specie,excellent point of view and great sharpness and colors...i hope that don't disappear from your forest!My best compliments,have a nice day,LUCIANO.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF