The black-bellied cuckoo or black-bellied squirrel cuckoo is a bird of the family Cuculidae found in the Amazon region. Even though this species has a wide distribution, little is known about its ecology and natural history. The word melanogaster means "black belly"; it has Greek roots, melas meaning "black" and gaster meaning "belly".
Region
Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland tropical forests across the Amazon of northern South America, including parts of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and southern Venezuela. Prefers intact terra firme and seasonally flooded várzea forests, using the midstory to canopy. It is most often seen along quiet forest trails, edges of tall secondary growth, and near rivers where canopy gaps provide foraging opportunities. Generally avoids heavily degraded habitats but may persist in large forest fragments.
Altitude Range
0–800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A long-tailed, arboreal cuckoo of the Amazon, the black-bellied cuckoo often slips through the midstory and canopy, staying hidden among dense foliage. It forages methodically, sometimes following monkeys or army-ant swarms to catch flushed insects. Unlike many Old World cuckoos, it is not a brood parasite and builds its own nest. Its name reflects its distinctive dark underparts, from the Greek roots meaning 'black belly.'
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with glides between trees
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, moving quietly through mid-canopy vines and branches. Builds a shallow stick nest in dense foliage; both parents participate in incubation and care of the young. Courtship often includes quiet following and soft vocal exchanges within dense cover.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives a series of mellow, hollow whistles that often descend slightly in pitch. Calls may accelerate into a rhythmic sequence, carrying through the forest but remaining soft and fluty in quality.
