The Common Cuckoo is a migratory bird known for its distinctive "cuckoo" call, often heard in spring. It has a sleek body, gray plumage on its head, chest, and upperparts, with pale underparts marked by faint barring. Its long tail is dark with white spots, and its pointed wings give it a falcon-like silhouette in flight.
This bird is famous for its brood parasitism. Instead of building its own nest, the Common Cuckoo lays eggs in the nests of other birds, often choosing small songbirds like warblers and pipits. The cuckoo chick hatches earlier and grows faster, sometimes ejecting host eggs or chicks to monopolize the care of its foster parents.
The Common Cuckoo breeds in open woodlands, heathlands, and grasslands across Europe and Asia. It winters in sub-Saharan Africa, making long migrations twice a year. Its diet primarily consists of insects, including hairy caterpillars that are avoided by many other birds.
Happy December! As our Birdorable Bonanza 2024 starts to wind down, we're adding a tricky bird native to a wide range across the Old World: it's the Common Cuckoo! The Common Cuckoo is a fascinating bird known for its unique breeding behavior and its iconic two-note call, which signals... Read more »
