Striped Cuckoo

Overview

The striped cuckoo (Tapera naevia) is a near-passerine bird and the only member of the genus Tapera. It is a resident species found across the Americas and is one of the very few brood-parasitic cuckoos on the continent.

Identification

• Approximately 27 cm long with a grey-brown upper body streaked with black and buff.
• Features a pale supercilium and a chestnut and black crest that is raised during display.
• Off-white underparts and a long, graduated tail; immature birds are spotted with buff and more rufous.
• Emits a whistled call usually consisting of two or three notes, described as 'wu-weee' or 'wu-wu-wee'.

Habitat

Found from Mexico and Trinidad south to Bolivia, Argentina, and Colombia. It inhabits open country with trees or shrubs, as well as the edges of mangrove forests.

Diet

Feeds primarily on large insects, specifically grasshoppers and caterpillars, which are often taken off the ground.

Did you know?

The bird is famously mentioned in Tom Jobim's song 'Águas de março' and is central to Brazilian folklore as the 'matita-perê' associated with the legend of the saci.