Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | Western Population considered federally threatened.

Yellow-billed cuckoos are reclusive riparian birds that visit North America briefly during the summer breeding season. They undertake an arduous migration to and from South America’s Grand Chaco region, where they spend winter. The onset of breeding is correlated to large insect prey abundance on the breeding grounds--cuckoos need this rich nutrient source as their young grow quickly: from egg to fledgling in 17 days.

The secretive Yellow-billed Cuckoo is difficult to monitor, but current research shows that populations continue to decline precipitously, especially in the western U.S. Drought and land use changes have greatly reduced this birds’ historic breeding range and protections are needed to guard remaining habitat strongholds.

Western Yellow-billed Cuckoos are recognized by the USFWS as a Distinct Population Segment and have protection under the Endangered Species Act as a federally threatened species west of the continental divide and in portions of western Texas. The Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo Working Group unites partners across the species’ breeding and wintering areas to work towards recovering this unique bird. You can help by speaking up to protect your local waterways and participating in local habitat restoration efforts.

Information generously provided by:

Yellow-billed Cuckoo Western Working Group

Artwork ©Juliet Whitsett |Social: @juliet_whitsett_art | Purchase prints: HERE

5% of the profits of any sale supports Endangered & Threatened Species.

COLOR PALETTE SAMPLED FROM IMAGES OF THE YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO COMING SOON:

IMAGE:

Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-billed_cuckoo

Western Population Range:

BIODIVERSITY OF TEXAS SERIES:

With approximately 90 state and federal endangered species and 140 threatened species in Texas, Whitsett’s work underscores the urgency of conservation while emphasizing that protection is still possible.

Through the process of developing species-derived color palettes sampled from crowd-sourced images, Whitsett creates original artworks that draw inspiration from these distinctive palettes, as well as the lives and forms of the rarest and most at-risk. Collaborating closely with scientists and leading experts, she continually seeks to deepen her understanding of these species, contributing to both environmental education and conservation.

Juliet Whitsett is an Austin-based artist and environmental advocate specializing in biodiversity, ecological storytelling, and public engagement. Through research-driven art, she makes scientific knowledge accessible, inspiring awareness and action for the natural world.