What is the breeding range and breeding season of Pearly-breasted Cuckoo Coccyzus euleri? New records and breeding in French Guiana

• Published in: Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club Vol. 137; no. 1; pp. 3 - 11
• Main Authors: Claessens, Olivier, Giraud-Audine, Michel, Royer, Frédéric, Sénécaux, Lydie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: British Ornithologists’ Club 01.03.2017
• ISSN: 0007-1595; 2513-9894
• DOI: 10.25226/bboc.v137i1.2017.a1

Pearly-breasted Cuckoo Coccyzus euleri is a rare South American forest cuckoo and almost nothing is known concerning its breeding biology. It is considered to be a rare austral migrant in northern South America. In French Guiana, it was first documented in 2009 in Nouragues Nature Reserve. We detail seven new records in northern French Guiana in 2010–15, including a pair breeding. We provide information on the nest, nest site and behaviour. The breeding attempt failed during incubation, presumably due to predation. The new records were obtained in primary or old secondary forests contiguous to the primary forest block, between 9 August and 17 September. Most birds were spontaneously vocalising and strongly reacted to playback. These observations, and other known breeding records, raise questions as to the species' status in northern South America.