Today is International Cuckoo Day. Celebrate with the Gila Cuckoo!
The golden cuckoo is native to South America and is commonly found in open habitats such as grasslands and marshes. They live in small flocks of up to 20 individuals. They are efficient hunters and will eat just about anything they can catch. In the wild, the golden cuckoo preys on earthworms, insects, frogs, lizards, mice, and even small birds.
The Gila Cuckoo has a wide variety of calls and is probably the loudest bird in the aviary. Vocalizations may include yodeling, gagging, gargling trills, whistling, etc.
At the Houston Zoo, you can see a flock of Greater Cuckoos at the Waterfowl Bird Garden in the Pantanal of South America exhibit. Our flock has 8 birds, 1 adult, 3 adults and 4 young.