Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Cuculus canorus
Family: Cuculidae
Size: 32-34 cm (12.6-13.4 inches)
Wingspan: 55-65 cm (21.7-25.6 inches)
Weight: 105-130 g (3.7-4.6 oz)

Conservation Status

IUCN Status: Least Concern (globally)
UK Status: Red List (severe decline)
Population Trend: Declining significantly in the UK and parts of Europe

Worldwide Distribution

The Cuckoo can be found in:

Throughout Europe during summer months
Across Asia, including Russia, China, and the Indian subcontinent
Winters in central and southern Africa
Migrates annually between breeding and wintering grounds
Arrives in UK mid-April, departs July-September

Spotting Difficulty Rating

🔍🔍🔍 (3/5 – Moderate)

More often heard than seen
Males highly vocal during breeding season
Typically perches in open, but can be secretive
Resembles a sparrowhawk in flight

Habitat and Behavior

The Cuckoo is a distinctive summer visitor to the UK and Europe, instantly recognizable by its infamous call that has become synonymous with the arrival of spring. Males produce the classic “cuck-oo” sound, while females make a bubbling, chuckling call. Adult Cuckoos have slate-grey upperparts, barred underparts, and a long tail. They bear a remarkable resemblance to sparrowhawks, which may help deter smaller birds from mobbing them.

What makes the Cuckoo truly fascinating is its brood parasitism – it lays eggs in the nests of other bird species, primarily meadow pipits, reed warblers, and dunnocks in the UK. The female Cuckoo can produce eggs that mimic those of its host species. Upon hatching, the Cuckoo chick ejects the host’s eggs or young from the nest, ensuring it receives all the food and attention from its unwitting foster parents.

Cuckoos feed primarily on large insects and caterpillars, particularly hairy caterpillars that many other birds avoid. They have a particular fondness for moth caterpillars, especially the garden tiger moth. Their dietary specialization may contribute to their decline, as changes in insect populations affect their food supply.

Cultural History

The Cuckoo features prominently in European folklore and cultural traditions, with its distinctive call marking the changing of seasons for thousands of years. In British folklore numerous traditional rhymes and sayings predict weather patterns or personal fortune based on when one first hears the Cuckoo’s call.

An old English rhyme states: “The cuckoo comes in April, He sings his song in May, In the middle of June he changes his tune, And in July he flies away.” This accurately describes the bird’s vocalization pattern during its stay in Britain.

The term “cuckold” derives from the Cuckoo’s breeding habit, becoming a literary and cultural reference for a man whose wife is unfaithful. Shakespeare makes numerous references to Cuckoos in his plays, using them as symbols of infidelity and the passing of time.

In many European cultures, hearing the first Cuckoo while holding money in your pocket was said to ensure prosperity throughout the year. Conversely, hearing it on an empty stomach was considered unlucky. This tradition persisted into the 20th century in parts of rural Britain.

The bird’s distinctive call has also been immortalized in music, most famously in Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony and in numerous folk songs across Europe, emphasizing the bird’s cultural significance beyond its natural history.

Fun Facts

🥚 Female Cuckoos can lay up to 20 eggs in a single breeding season, each in a different host nest

🎯 Cuckoos have evolved specialized egg mimicry for different host species, with different “gentes” (tribes) of female Cuckoos specializing in particular hosts

👶 A newly hatched Cuckoo chick can lift and eject host eggs or chicks from the nest when just one day old, despite being blind and naked

🌍 Juvenile Cuckoos migrate to Africa independently of their parents, instinctively knowing the route despite never meeting their biological parents

🦅 Their hawk-like appearance may help scare away smaller birds or reduce nest defense, making egg-laying easier

🦟 Cuckoos can eat hairy caterpillars toxic to many other birds, later regurgitating the spines and indigestible parts

⏰ Male Cuckoos are extremely territorial about their calling posts and will aggressively defend prime positions

Best Places to Spot a Cuckoo in the UK

RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk
Dartmoor National Park, Devon
New Forest National Park, Hampshire
North York Moors National Park
The Norfolk Broads
Knepp Estate Rewilding Project, West Sussex
Welsh uplands, particularly Snowdonia

Recommended Viewing Tips

Listen for the distinctive call in woodland edges from mid-April
Early morning and dusk are prime calling times
Scan open perches and tree tops, especially in areas near reed beds
May be seen flying between patches of woodland with distinctive falcon-like flight
Learn both male and female calls to increase chances of identification
Look for host birds (like Meadow Pipits) mobbing Cuckoos during breeding season

Conservation Notes

The UK Cuckoo population has declined by over 65% since the 1980s, with conservation efforts focusing on:

Understanding migration routes and challenges using satellite tracking
Protecting insect populations, particularly moth species
Preserving habitats of both Cuckoos and their host species
Climate change research, as migration timing may be affected by changing seasons
Citizen science projects tracking first arrival dates and distribution
Conserving African wintering grounds and migration stopover sites