What Bird Is Called a Rain Crow?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 10, 2023

The yellow-billed cuckoo is known as the “rain crow” due to its inclination to sing as a storm approaches. This bird can be found across much of the United States, as well as in parts of Mexico where it migrates during winter.

The yellow-billed cuckoo is a small bird of approximately 10 to 13 inches. It is a slender brown and white bird with a long tail and a yellow mandible. The yellow-billed cuckoo is found living in orchards, willows, thickets and pastures. It eats hairy caterpillars and can help keep outbreaks of this caterpillar from becoming overwhelming. On average, the yellow-billed cuckoo will lay two to four eggs at a time when nesting.