the 48 cm big reindeer-cuckoo Central America (from Mexico as far as to Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) is somewhat smaller than its near relative, that 58 cm long Erdkuckuck (Geococcyx californianus) from Mexico and the southwestern United States (until Utah and Kansas).
Characteristics Both types have a camouflage-colored one, white, brown and black speckled plumage, aufrichtbare feather-bonnets as well as unbefiederte blue, white and red skin-strips behind the eyes. The legs are long and powerful, the toes relatively short. Although reindeer-cuckoos can fly, they escape (even if only quite clumsy) on foot with danger, with what these cuckoos gain speeds of 20-30 km per hour and jump up up to 3 m. its wings earn it little on that occasion to help, the long tail serves the balance.
Food In the semi-deserts and desert-areas of its home, reindeer-cuckoos hunt insects, snakes and lizards, who first process it in detail with the powerful beaks, before the loot is devoured in one piece. Also snails, rodents and (only occasionally) small birds belong to the food of these long-leg-cuckoos, why it beside its severe liveliness, with which country-population is quite popular as Schädlingsvertilger. Young reindeer-cuckoos are taken from the nest and are reared by hand; later, they then move half-tamely near the farmstead around.
Reproduction Ground, and reindeer-cuckoos are, also like the 25 cm big throttle-cuckoo Morococcyx erythropygus; from west-Mexico to Costa Rica - myself-brooding representatives of the subfamily long-leg-cuckoos.
Runs and Erdkuckucke build its nest over the ground in shrubs few meters, trees or on Kakteen. From time to time, one found up to 12 eggs, that probably came from several females, in it. After 14-18 days of brood-duration (from the first egg at), the squabs hatch; already in the age of 1 weeks, they leave its nest and climb in the surroundings around.
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