Mangrove Cuckoo
© David Laliberte
This secretive, south Florida specialty can be found breeding in mangrove swamps along or near the coast. They are heard more often than seen, but the patient birder can be rewarded with spectacular views. Mangrove Cuckoos are rarely found in winter, because they are generally silent, although some may move south to warmer climes. Snake Bight Trail in the southern portion of the Everglades National Park is a reliable site to search for this species. Consider checking also Long Key State Park and Crane Point Museums and Nature Center. Much about the biology of the Mangrove Cuckoo remains a mystery. Avoid the use of recordings to attract this species.
For more information, including a range map and sound recording, visit The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds website.
Recommended GFBWT sites:
- Bahia Honda State Park
- Biscayne National Park: Convoy Point
- Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park
- Everglades National Park: Main Entrance
- J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge
-
Weedon Island Preserve
Bird's habitat
In South Florida, Mangrove Cuckoos live in mangrove swamps and subtropical hardwoods near the coast.
