Cuckoo Facts - Information About Cuckoo

(Common) Cuckoo - Cuculus Canorus

Many people think the Cuckoo is a small bird, however, in reality, it is over a foot long and in flight can look very falcon like.
It is perhaps better known for its typical ‘cuckoo’ call and for its parasitic behaviour. The cuckoo is a summer migrant.

Identification:

Adult

• Without doubt the UKs most easily recognised calls.


• Adult males and females are alike.


• Cuckoo’s are as large as our doves, however the tail makes up a lot of that length.


• It could be likened to a small grey Magpie as the general shape is the same.

Males

• Tail is long, rounded, dark at the tip merging into pale grey - this grey colouration continues to cover the entire upperparts including the head and upper breast.


• Wings are also grey but the primaries are darker.


• The grey head has a yellow eye and small dark bill.


• The underparts are white with dark barring, heaviest on the lower breast, this thins out the belly and is almost lacking on the undertail coverts.
• Under side of the tail show some white barring.


• Legs are very short and yellow.

Females

Come in two colour phases:

1. Grey (common) very similar to adult males but shows a rusty tinged chest.


2. Brown (rare) this is also called hepatic, which is totally rusty brown above, streaked dark and whitish below, again with dark streaking.

In flight the long pointed wings never raise above the horizontal.

Juvenile

• Juveniles appear from May onwards and are look lake grey/brown adults.


• Adult females lay their eggs in host nests and let other species of birds bring up the youngsters.


• Common host parents are Reed Warbler and Meadow pipits, the female cuckoo may visit an astonishing 40-50 nest in one summer.

Status and Distribution

The Cuckoo is a common breeding migrant in the UK with over 15000 pairs. The Cuckoo occurs in all counties throughout the UK and Ireland
Birds start to arrive in April and head south to winter in Africa in September/October.

Habitat/Food

Cuckoos occur in all habitat types throughout the UK, woodlands, parks, gardens, farmland, Marsh’s, reedbeds indeed any open country habitat with suitable scrub.
Cuckoos are insect eaters and are partial to caterpillars and beetles.

Song/Call

Call / song note; Cuckoos have one of the most well known of all bird sounds, it gives a far carrying ‘coo coo’ sounding like its name.