Great Lizard-Cuckoo (Coccyzus merlini merlini) 8 November 2015. Sopillar, Matanzas, CU
![]() I believe this is probably a juvenile because of its yellow orbital and dull colors. Adults usually have a red orbital and brighter colors. This species is the largest member of the genus Coccyzus formerly included with other Lizard-Cuckoos in the genus Saurothera. The species may be divided into two groups; 1) Bahama and 2) Cuban. The latter is further divided into three subspecies of which this is the nominate found on the main island. The Bahama group is sometimes split as a separate species, Bahama Lizard-cuckoo (Coccyzus bahamensis). This split is based on the controversial Tobias scoring system in which objective differences are supposedly scored consistently across taxa. The Bahama Lizard-cuckoo gets a score of "7" based on its duller color and slightly different tail pattern. This score puts it just over the line into being classified as a species under this scheme which has been adopted by Birdlife International and by HBW. Reference: del Hoyo, J., Collar, N. & Kirwan, G.M. (2016). Bahama Lizard-cuckoo (Coccyzus bahamensis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Payne, R.B. (1997). del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J., eds. Family Cuculidae (Cuckoos). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos (Barcelona: Lynx Edicions). ISBN 84-87334-22-9. Canon PowerShot SX50 HS |