Common Squirrel Cuckoo

Piaya cayana (Linnaeus, 1766)

Cuculidae — Cuckoos

Common Squirrel Cuckoo, Piaya cayana, is a cuckoo of Middle America and South America, breeding widely across that region. It is placed in the family Cuculidae and was described by Linnaeus in 1766. The bird is associated with woodland canopy and edges, second growth, hedges and other semi-open places. It is a large, very long-tailed cuckoo, and its name comes from the way it moves along branches and between them in squirrel-like fashion. It is also known for short flights, usually with gliding and only occasional wingbeats.

Order
Cuculiformes
Family
Cuculidae — Cuckoos
Breeding range
Middle America, South America: widespread
Common Squirrel Cuckoo
© Nando bomfim fotografo · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

8 tours in Mexico

Birding Vallarta Botanical Gardens and Macaw Preserve
Birding Vallarta Botanical Gardens and Macaw Preserve
Mexico / Puerto Vallarta Private tour 10h

A full-day birding route south of Puerto Vallarta combining the Vallarta Botanical Gardens area and a macaw preserve/conservation landscape....

From MXN 3,800
Laguna Quelele and Rio Ameca Birding Trip
Laguna Quelele and Rio Ameca Birding Trip
Mexico / Nuevo Nayarit Private tour 7h

A birding trip to Laguna Quelele and the Rio Ameca mouth, one of Banderas Bay's strong wetland birding areas....

From MXN 3,505
San Blas Birding Overnight
San Blas Birding Overnight
Mexico / San Blas Private tour 2 days

Use two field days to explore San Blas birding habitats with Luis Morales, combining an extended first session with a second morning and ear...

From MXN 5,480
San Blas Birding Day Trip
San Blas Birding Day Trip
Mexico / San Blas Private tour 11h

A full-day birding trip to the San Blas area, exploring a highly diverse Pacific coast birding landscape with boat and land components....

From MXN 3,900
Birding San Pancho Sunset
Birding San Pancho Sunset
Mexico / San Pancho Private tour 2.5h

A late-afternoon San Pancho birding outing to enjoy tropical birds and their habitats, ending around sunset....

From MXN 950
San Pancho Morning Short Birding 2.5h
San Pancho Morning Short Birding 2.5h
Mexico / San Pancho Private tour 2.5h

An easy-paced early morning San Pancho birding option for tropical birds and local habitats when time is limited....

From MXN 950
San Pancho Morning Special Birding 4.5h
San Pancho Morning Special Birding 4.5h
Mexico / San Pancho Private tour 4.5h

A special San Pancho morning birding outing with breakfast buffet, combining tropical and migratory birds with natural history and local hab...

From MXN 2,100
Birding San Pancho Morning Classic 4.5h
Birding San Pancho Morning Classic 4.5h
Mexico / San Pancho Private tour 4.5h

A classic San Pancho morning birding walk for beginner and advanced birders, focused on tropical and migratory birds in the area's mosaic of...

From MXN 1,800