Species · GBIF taxon 5231918
Common Cuckoo
Cuculus canorusAlso known as Eurasian Cuckoo, European Cuckoo
Common cuckoos are famous brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other bird species and leaving the host parents to raise their demanding chicks. Adults mimic the appearance of sparrowhawks to frighten host birds away from their nests, allowing the female cuckoo to swiftly deposit a single, highly camouflaged egg. Their iconic, echoing two-note call heralds the arrival of spring across temperate Eurasia before they migrate back to African wintering grounds.
Brood ParasiteMigratoryVocal
Licensed referenceRon Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
- diet
- Insectivorous, specializing in hairy caterpillars that other birds avoid
- family
- Cuculidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, decline of host species, and pesticide use reducing insect prey
- life Span
- 4 to 6 years
LC
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Listen for Calls: Locate males in spring by tracking their distinctive, repetitive two-note call from high perches.
- Watch Host Nests: Observe reed warbler or dunnock nests from a distance to witness foster parenting behavior.
- Scan the Tree Line: Look for a hawk-like silhouette with pointed wings and a long, graduated tail.