Behavior

Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoos seem to be more often heard than seen: "…this species is quite inactive, often sitting quietly among dense vegetation showing little alarm at one’s approach" (Raffaele et al. 1998). "In passing through the trees, birds of this species keep to the densest foliage and make long pauses, during which they sit motionless, merely turning the head slightly. In early morning, they may come out into dead trees or on exposed limbs to get the sun, where they sit with drooping wings and ruffled feathers. Though seen occasionally on the ground, they spend most of their time in bushes and trees" (Wetmore 1927).

They hunt using stealth rather than rapid attacks, and most often approach prey on foot rather than by flying. They climb or clamber up tree trunks and branches, searching the canopy and all surfaces of the bole and branches for anole lizards. Anoles dash for hiding as soon as they spot a lizard-cuckoo, or if one calls in close proximity (J. Toms, personal communication).

Records from annual winter mistnetting in Guánica Dry Forest from 1989-2009 show that of 133 Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoos banded, 81 birds were recaptured in subsequent years (J. Faaborg, unpublished data). All but 17 of these recaptures were caught in the same netline in which they were banded in previous years (J. Faaborg, unpublished data). Of the remaining 17, all were recaptured in neighboring netlines from one year to the next (J. Faaborg, unpublished data). This suggests that Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoos have regular territories or home ranges where they remain for long periods of time.

Twenty-five weekly transect surveys conducted in two mangrove communities in Puerto Rico found Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoos at a mean density of 0.1 birds per 10 ha, and one territory per 100 m strip transect (Wiley 1988).

No information.

Most often solitary (J. Toms, personal communication).

No information.