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Platte River Status: A fairly common and widely distributed migrant and nesting species. Occurrence dates at the Mormon Island Crane Meadows, Hall County, extend from 25 May to 5 September. Tout (1947) recorded yellow-billed cuckoo in Lincoln County during 17 May to 1 October. Rosche (1947) found this cuckoo in the lower North Platte River Valley during 14 May to 21 August.

Breeding Range: A fairly common nesting species in the Platte River Valley and locally on the Dissected Plain. Uncommon and local on the Eastern Plain and Western Plain. Rare and local in the Sandhills.

Breeding Population: The population in 1979-1980 was estimated at 500 breeding pairs. Our estimate is probably low, especially in years when there is an abundance of tent caterpillars.

Habitat: We found the highest mean breeding densities in shelterbelts (34.6 pairs/km²), followed by lowland forest (6.4 pairs/km²), and residential (1.2 pairs/km²). Rising (1974) reported that yellow-billed cuckoo was a common summer resident in rank riparian thickets throughout western Kansas. Johnsgard (1980) stated that nesting birds in Nebraska occupy dense thickets near water, second growth woodlands, deserted farmland overgrown with shrubs and brush, and brushy orchards. Graber and Graber (1963) reported densities of 25 birds/km² in edge shrubs, and 9.7 birds/km² from orchards in Illinois.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Yellow-billed cuckoo has benefited positively from establishment of wooded vegetation within the river channel, and from planting of shelterbelts in the uplands. Graber and Graber (1963) speculated that the statewide population of yellow-billed cuckoo in Illinois has declined in response to destruction of many hedgerows and roadside shrubs along field boundaries.

Nesting Data: We have records of 3 active nests from the study area. Tout (1947) recounted his observation of a nest in a grape vine in Lincoln County found 31 May 1937. Tout stated that the latest he found an active nest was 24 June. Collister (1950) reported that at least 2 pairs nested in a tree grove on her Keith County farm near Paxton in 1949. Egg dates in Kansas extend from 11 May to 10 September, with a peak in early June (Johnsgard 1979).