Male: Dark blue-grey, black and white barring on breast.
Female: Either like the male or red-brown.
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The adult birds usually have blue-grey head, breast and upperparts, and horizontal barring on the underparts and white spots and tips on the tail. However, the female also exists as a rare rufous "hepatic" morph, so instead of being grey it is red-brown. The eyes and legs are yellow and the slightly curved bill is horn-coloured.
In flight, the Cuckoo can be easily mistaken for a Sparrowhawk or Kestrel, because it has swept-back wings and long tail. However, Sparrowhawks do not have pointed wings like the Cuckoo, and the Kestrel is streaked and not barred on the underparts.
When perched, usually in the open at the top of a tree, the Cuckoo drops its wings below the level of its tail, as in the photograph. The best places to see Cuckoo are grassland, reed beds, and edges of woodland.
Juveniles are similar to the rufous female, but with a white patch on the nape.
An old rhyme describes the Cuckoo's time in Britain:
In April I open my bill
In May I sing night and day
In June I change my tune
In July far far I fly
In August away I must
Voice
The female has a rich bubbling chuckle, but the male's call is the very familiar "cuckoo".
Generally, if you hear a Cuckoo singing you will probably not see it until it stops singing, which is when it flies away from its song post.
Male Call
© Jean Roché, www.sittelle.com
Female Call
© Jean Roché, www.sittelle.com
Feeding
Caterpillars and other insects such as beetles and ants form the major part of the Cuckoo's diet. Many of the caterpillars are the hairy or brightly coloured poisonous ones, but their digestive system is specially adapted to cope with the hairs and toxins.
The female will also sometimes eat the eggs and nestlings of the host bird.
Nesting
The Cuckoo is a brood parasite, it lays its eggs in other birds' nests and leaves the host birds to incubate and rear its young. Dunnocks, Robins and Meadow Pipits are frequent host birds. Each female Cuckoo specialises in using a particular host species and will lay eggs with similar markings to the host bird's eggs, and the young Cuckoo will imitate the begging calls of the host's chicks.
When the Cuckoo nestling hatches, it instinctively pushes the other eggs and nestlings out of the nest.
| Breeding Starts | Clutches | Eggs | Incubation (days) | Fledge (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| late May | 1-25 | 1 | 11-12 | 17-21 |
Movements
They are a summer migrant, arriving around April and returning to central and southern Africa from mid-July to August. The juveniles follow in August and September.
Conservation
Since the early 1980s, the numbers of Cuckoos has been in decline and this may be because the populations of some key host species, such as Dunnock and Meadow Pipit, have also declined. Consequently, the Cuckoo is now red list species.
Certainly! The information you provided seems to be centered around the fascinating world of the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), a bird renowned for its intriguing behavior and unique characteristics. Let's break down the concepts mentioned:
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Physical Characteristics:
- Male and Female Differences: The male Common Cuckoo typically displays dark blue-grey, black, and white barring on its breast, while females can exhibit a similar pattern or appear as a rare rufous "hepatic" morph, displaying red-brown coloring instead of grey. Both genders have yellow eyes and legs, a slightly curved horn-colored bill, and show white spots and tips on the tail.
- Flight and Perching: In flight, the Cuckoo can resemble a Sparrowhawk or Kestrel due to its swept-back wings and long tail. When perched, it drops its wings below the level of its tail.
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Habitat and Behavior:
- Preferred Habitats: Common Cuckoos are often found in grasslands, reed beds, and woodland edges.
- Juveniles: Young Cuckoos resemble the rufous female but have a distinguishing white patch on the nape.
- Rhyme and Vocalizations: There's a famous rhyme describing the Cuckoo's seasonal behavior, and their vocalizations differ between male and female, with the male's call being the well-known "cuckoo."
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Diet and Feeding Habits:
- Diet: Their primary diet consists of caterpillars, beetles, ants, including hairy or brightly colored poisonous caterpillars. Their digestive system is adapted to handle these toxins.
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Nesting and Reproduction:
- Brood Parasitism: Common Cuckoos are brood parasites, laying their eggs in other birds' nests, often utilizing species like Dunnocks, Robins, and Meadow Pipits. The young Cuckoos imitate the begging calls of the host chicks, pushing other eggs and nestlings out of the nest when they hatch.
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Breeding and Migration:
- Breeding Season: Typically begins in late May, with a clutch size ranging from 1 to 25 eggs. Incubation lasts about 11-12 days, and fledging occurs between 17-21 days.
- Migratory Patterns: They are summer migrants, arriving around April and returning to central and southern Africa from mid-July to August. Juveniles follow in August and September.
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Conservation Status:
- Decline: Numbers of Common Cuckoos have been declining since the 1980s, likely due to declines in key host species like Dunnocks and Meadow Pipits. Consequently, they are now considered a red list species.
These details offer a comprehensive overview of the Common Cuckoo's biology, behavior, and ecological significance, emphasizing their unique reproductive strategy and the challenges they face in contemporary environments.
