Cuckoo
Least ConcernCuculus canorus
Visual Identification
Cuckoo
Appearance
The Common Cuckoo is a medium-sized bird with a slender body and long, pointed wings. Adults have blue-grey upperparts, white underparts with dark barring, and a distinctive long, graduated tail. The head features a slightly curved, dark grey bill and striking yellow eyes ringed with yellow.
Juveniles differ from adults, showing rufous-brown upperparts with dark barring. Both sexes look similar, though females may have a slight rufous tinge to the neck and breast.
Size
Length
32cm to 34cm
Wingspan
55cm to 60cm
Weight
110g to 130g
Colours
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Grey White
Secondary Colour
Brown
Beak Colour
Grey
Leg Colour
Yellow
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Common Cuckoos inhabit many habitats, including woodlands, meadows, marshes, and farmland across Europe and Asia. They prefer areas with abundant host species for their parasitic breeding strategy.
These birds are summer visitors to the UK and much of Europe, arriving in April and departing for their African wintering grounds in July or August. They are widespread but declining in many regions.
Elevation Range
Up to 3,800 meters
Climate zones
Temperate, Subtropical
Distribution Map
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
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Diet
Common Cuckoos primarily feed on insects, with a particular preference for hairy caterpillars that many other birds avoid. They also consume beetles, flies, and occasionally small frogs or lizards. Cuckoos often feed on the ground or glean prey from leaves and branches.
Behaviour
Common Cuckoos are known for their secretive nature and parasitic breeding habits. They are often more easily heard than seen, perching inconspicuously in trees.
These birds are solitary outside the breeding season and exhibit a distinctive, undulating flight pattern when moving between perches.
Vocalisation
The male Common Cuckoo's call is one of Europe's most recognisable bird sounds: a clear, far-carrying 'cuck-oo'. This two-note call is repeated several times in succession. Females produce a distinctive bubbling chuckle or 'water-bubble' call, often in response to the male's song.
Nesting & Breeding
Common Cuckoos are brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other bird species. The breeding season typically runs from late April to early July. Females locate suitable host nests, often those of small songbirds like reed warblers or meadow pipits.
The female cuckoo lays a single egg in the host nest, often removing one of the host's eggs. Cuckoo eggs mimic those of the host species in appearance. Host parents unknowingly incubate the cuckoo egg alongside their own.
The cuckoo chick hatches after 11-13 days and quickly ejects the host's eggs or chicks from the nest. It is then raised exclusively by the host parents, often growing much larger than them before fledging after about 17-21 days.
Lifespan
years
The Cuckoo typically lives for 6 to 8 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While listed as Least Concern globally, Common Cuckoo populations are declining in parts of Europe, including the UK. Habitat loss, climate change affecting migration patterns, and declines in host species populations are primary concerns. Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding habitats and researching migration routes.
Birdwatching Tips
- Listen for the distinctive 'cuck-oo' call of males in spring and early summer
- Look for cuckoos perched on exposed branches or flying between trees
- Observe areas near reed beds or woodland edges where host species are common
- Watch for the characteristic undulating flight pattern
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Other names:
Common Cuckoo, European Cuckoo
Family:
CuculidaePredators
Adult Common Cuckoos face predation from birds of prey such as sparrowhawks and peregrine falcons. Eggs and chicks are vulnerable to nest predators including jays, magpies, and squirrels.
Did You Know?
- Common Cuckoos can mimic the egg patterns of up to 20 different host species.
- Cuckoo chicks can grow to be much larger than their foster parents.
- These birds are capable of eating hairy caterpillars that are toxic to many other bird species. A layer of bristles surrounds the cuckoo’s bill and protects its eyes.
- During their migration from Britain to the Congo, cuckoos cross the Sahara in one continuous 50-60 hour flight.
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FAQs
When is the earliest Cuckoo in the UK usually?
The earliest Cuckoos arrive in the UK in late February. The rest of the population arrives over the following two months.
Are Cuckoos evil?
Despite their questionable breeding strategy, Cuckoos are not malicious creatures. Of course, killing off another species’ offspring and then manipulating them into feeding and caring for you is not the typical definition of kindness either!
What is a group of Cuckoos called?
Known collective nouns for a group of Cuckoos are as follows:
- an asylum of cuckoos
- a cooch of cuckoos
- a family of cuckoos
Why don’t Cuckoos raise their own chicks?
Leaving their egg to hatch and be raised by an unsuspecting host allows Cuckoos to spend more time caring for themselves. They are not bound to their nest and, therefore, free to leave south on their annual migration to the rich foraging grounds of Africa long before their chicks can fend for themselves.
Why do Cuckoos steal nests?
Nest building is a time and energy-consuming task. Cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds' nests to maximise the chance of their offspring surviving and minimise the effort they must contribute.
References
- 1 2 3
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Cuculus canorus (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22683873A155496731.
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