Pheasant Cuckoo
Dromococcyx phasianellus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCuculiformes (Cuckoos)
- FamilyCuculidae (Cuckoos)
- GenusDromococcyx (Large Neotropical Parasitic Cuckoos)
- SpeciesDromococcyx phasianellus (Pheasant Cuckoo)
About the Pheasant Cuckoo
The pheasant cuckoo (Dromococcyx phasianellus) is a species of neotropical cuckoo in the subfamily Neomorphinae of the family Cuculidae. It is native to Central and South America where it occurs in lowland tropical forest.
The pheasant cuckoo is a large cuckoo with a short crest tipped with rusty brown. The bird's upper parts are dark sooty-brown and the underparts are pale buff with small black streaks on the breast. The feathers of the large tail are of varying lengths, with the central ones being the longest. The call consists of two short whistles, the second being of higher pitch, followed by a trill "whee! whee! wheerr-rr". It can be sung from low, medium, or high perches or from the ground.
The breeding season in Mexico appears to be March through August when the males sing. In Oaxaca breeding is from April to June while in Panama calling most frequent from mid-April to July, i.e. from the onset of wet season. There is little information about territorial behaviour. Males respond to singing males with counter-singing or by a strutting display involving head and crest raised, breast feathers puffed out and wings partially extended... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Tikal National Park
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biotopo Cerro Cahuí | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | |
| 2 | Tikal National Park | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | |
| 3 | Chapada dos Guimarães National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 4 | Calakmul Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 5 | Amacayacu National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 6 | Chagres National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 7 | Cusuco National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 8 | Cañón del Sumidero National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 9 | Soberanía National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 10 | Cordillera Azul National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 11 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 12 | Pico Bonito National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 13 | Sierra de la Macarena National Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 14 | Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 15 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 16 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 17 | Celaque National Park | 🇭🇳 Honduras | |
| 18 | Anavilhanas National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 19 | Parque Natural Metropolitano | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 20 | Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 21 | Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 22 | Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Pheasant Cuckoo in Tikal National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Pheasant Cuckoo sighting in Tikal National Park, based on 151 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Pheasant Cuckoo in Tikal National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Pheasant Cuckoo in Tikal National Park in our monthly data.