Creating Habitat for the Yellow-Billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americana)

Abstract

Yellow-billed Cuckoo numbers have decreased alarmingly in recent decades. This is associated with demise of their riparian habitats. Study of habitat along the lower Colorado River and along the South Fork Kern River led to the conclusion that they require dense habitats dominated by cottonwood (Populus fremontii) and willow (Salix spp.). They nest predominantly in willow and forage primarily in cottonwood trees on insects and tree frogs. On the basis of this information habitat designs were made and revegetation efforts were undertaken to create habitat for this bird species. Factors that decrease planned rapid development of these habitats have included salinity, competition from weeds and damage by local wildlife and, more recently, cattle browsing.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the California riparian systems conference: protection, management, and restoration for the 1990s; 1988 September 22-24; Davis, CA.

Citation

Anderson, Bertin W.; Laymon, Stephen A. 1989. Creating Habitat for the Yellow-Billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americana). In: Abell, Dana L., Technical Coordinator. 1989. Proceedings of the California Riparian Systems Conference: protection, management, and restoration for the 1990s; 1988 September 22-24; Davis, CA. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-110. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 468-472