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Project Noah Nature School
Geococcyx californianus
I never realized that these large birds were in the Cuckoo family. Sometimes as they come at you, you may not recognize them until they turn and you can see the long sparse tail feathers, the heavy streaking of black and brown on the upperside and chest. The head has a dark crown that sometimes raises. Bill is long and it has a bluish flesh behind the eyes.
Spotted these in open areas and parking lot and crossing streets. And yes they go in trees too.
The behavior in the first photo shows how they spread their wings to flush out things like lizards and grasshoppers.
Spotted on May 20, 2017
Submitted on Jun 16, 2017
4 Comments
Thank you for the nomination.
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated Janet!
Thank you, we get these in California but not as common. When I saw the one in the parking lot, I watched as it would jump into truck beds looking for food.
Beautiful photography! That is our state bird here in New Mexico.