A fairly common, albeit reclusive, resident of tropical deciduous forest and other open woodlands, Dark-billed Cuckoo has a large range and is well adapted to a variety of habitats. This species also inhabit a wide range of altitudes; it primarily occurs in the lowlands, but has been observed as high as 3600 m. Like other species of Coccyzus, Dark-billed Cuckoo is not a nest parasite and instead raises its own young, which can number as many as five per clutch. The diet of Dark-billed Cuckoo consists nearly entirely of terrestrial arthropods, with caterpillars, beetles, ants, and grasshoppers being its favorite prey.