Tapera naevia
striped cuckoo

Tapera naevia, commonly known as the striped cuckoo, is found from southern Mexico to southwestern Ecuador, as well as in northern Argentina and southeastern Brazil. (Stiles and Skutch, 1989)

Striped cuckoos occupy tropical habitats, which commonly include grasslands and scrub forests from sea level to 1400 m in elevation. These birds are usually found near the edge of forests, in areas with scattered shrubs and trees. Less commonly they are round in tropical bogs. ("Tapera naevia", 2006; Johnsgard, 1997; Smith and Smith, 2000)

Striped cuckoos are average sized cuckoos, with an average mass of 55 g, and approximately 30 cm in length. Average wingspan of males is 112.4 mm (range from 108 to 117.5 mm), and of females is 108.2 mm (raange from 104 to 112 mm). Striped cuckoos have relatively long tails, averaging 157.7 mm in males and 146.2 mm in females. (Johnsgard, 1997)

At hatching striped cuckoos are featherless, with pink skin and a yellow-orange gape. Feathers are grown after approximately ten days. Immature striped cuckoos are characterized by a black head, black markings on the neck, wavy black markings on the underside, and yellow spots on the feathers of the upper body. Adults are overall brown in color, and are distinguished by a shaggy crest and black streaks along the back. The feathers of the adult's long tail are gray-brown and white tipped. The adult also has abnormally large, dark alulas feathers (the alulas is a joint in the middle of the bird's wing), giving it the common name "four-winged cuckoo." Adult females and males are nearly identical in appearance. (Johnsgard, 1997; Stiles and Skutch, 1989)

There is little available information regarding the lifespan striped cuckoos and other cuckoos.

Striped cuckoos are solitary birds, active during the day. They tend to stay within the cover of shrubs. (Johnsgard, 1997; Land, 1970; Smith and Smith, 2000)

When frightened or disturbed, striped cuckoos will flash their alulas. (Stiles and Skutch, 1989)

Home Range

There is little available information regarding the home range of Tapera naevia or other cuckoo species.

Striped cuckoos have three distinct song types. Each song type is used to communicate with neighbors, mates, and intruders. Furthermore, each song type is used to communicate its "readiness to interact" to its neighbor, mate, or intruder. One song is bisyllabic; the second syllable has a higher pitch and is accented. Another song consists of five to six syllables; the last syllable has a lower pitch that the first four to five. A third song consists of four short syllables; again, the last syllable has a lower pitch, and is much shorter, than the first three. Songs are whistled, and repeated for minutes at five to ten second increments. During a song, striped cuckoos raise and lower their crest, and may lower their wings. Songs are occasionally sung in duets (commonly by mating birds), and striped cuckoos will respond to birds that imitate their songs. (Peterson and Chalif, 1973; Smith and Smith, 2000)

There is little available information regarding the food habits of striped cuckoos. They eat insects (Insecta), mostly grasshoppers (Orthoptera). Other cuckoo species are omnivores, also eating insects, in addition to spiders (Araneae), fruits, seeds, and even small vertebrates. (Leahy, 2004; Peterson and Chalif, 1973; Stiles and Skutch, 1989)

There is little available information regarding predation on striped cuckoos. When striped cuckoos are frightened or disturbed, they will flash their alulas. (Stiles and Skutch, 1989)

Striped cuckoos are interspecific brood parasites with over 20 host species, listed below. The first 17 listed are well-documented hosts while the last four are probable or minor hosts. (Johnsgard, 1997)

Striped cuckoo parasitism is believed to have a negative effect on both the nests and fecundity of host species. In other cuckoo species, the young cuckoo will remove the eggs of the host from the nest or kill the host's young, forcing the host to devote its attention solely to the young cuckoo. (Ehrlich, Dobkin, and Wheye, 1988; Johnsgard, 1997)

There are no known adverse affects of Tapera naevia on humans.

There are no known positive effects of Tapera naevia on humans.

Tapera naevia appears to be expanding its range, most likely in response to recent deforestation. (Stiles and Skutch, 1989)

Cuckoos, in general, derive their name from the sound of their calls. Tapera naevia is the only cuckoo in its range with a striped back, and is therefore commonly called the striped cuckoo. (Leahy, 2004; Peterson and Chalif, 1973)