- In Southern Arizona, the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus Americanus) is a rare, reclusive, and federally threatened bird known as the "Rain Crow" for its tendency to call before summer storms - These birds are elusive "ghosts" of the canopy, more often identified by their guttural, wooden-sounding "Kowlp" calls than by sight - Southern Arizona is a critical stronghold for the western population ... while they are traditionally found in lush riparian gallery forests (cottonwood and willow), recent research shows they also thrive in drier habitats unique to this region - Riparian Strongholds: The San Pedro River (especially between San Manuel and Mammoth) and the Santa Cruz River near Tubac are prime locations - Sky Islands: Look for them in the mountain foothills of the Santa Catalina, Chiricahua, and Whetstone Mountains