This cuckoo ranges from northeastern Mexico to northern Argentina in the tropics. It moves through trees with its long tail as it searches for insects.
The upperparts are rich rufous, the eyering is yellow or red, and the bill is lime green.
It searches for caterpillars, grasshoppers, and other insects in the middle and upper levels of forests. It also eats small lizards.
It usually forages alone or in loose pairs, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks. It hops along branches and gives loud calls.
Its tail is exceptionally long in proportion to its body and stands out as it moves through branches.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.