Striped cuckoo

The striped cuckoo is a fascinating bird found in regions ranging from Mexico and Trinidad down through Bolivia and Argentina. It inhabits open spaces with trees or shrubs and the peripheries of mangrove forests. Unique among American cuckoos, it practices brood parasitism, laying its eggs in the nests of other birds such as spinetails and wrens that build domed nests.

The female striped cuckoo typically deposits one or two white or bluish eggs in a host's nest. These eggs hatch after about 15 days, and the chicks fledge approximately 18 days later.

This bird measures about 27 cm in length and weighs around 40 grams. Adults possess a grey-brown upper body adorned with black and buff streaks, a pale stripe above their eyes, a chestnut and black crest, off-white underparts, and a long, graduated tail. Juveniles, in contrast, are more rufous with buff spots on their backs and wings. The striped cuckoo's diet primarily comprises large insects, which it often picks from the ground.

A solitary and somewhat elusive bird, the striped cuckoo generally prefers to remain hidden within bushes. However, it occasionally sings from more exposed locations. Its call, a distinctive two- or three-note whistle sounding like "wu-weee" or "wu-wu-wee" is notable. Mimicking this call can sometimes attract the bird.

In Brazilian folklore, the striped cuckoo is associated with the legend of the saci or matinta-pereira. Known by various names in different parts of Brazil, including matinta-pereira, pitica, crispim, and fenfém, this bird holds cultural significance, even being mentioned in Tom Jobim's renowned song "Águas de Março."