Striped Cuckoo

A brood-parasitic bird of open scrub, grassland and forest edge from Mexico south through much of South America, more often heard than seen thanks to its far-carrying, whistled two-note call. Look for a slim, streaked bird with a shaggy crest perched low in scrubby vegetation, particularly at dawn when calling is most frequent. Because it lays its eggs in the nests of other species, watching host birds such as spinetails can also reveal its presence.