Wednesday 11 May 2011

Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)

OTHER NAMES: Cuckoo, Gowk
Latin Etymology: Cuculus ("cuckoo") canorus ("melodious")

Adult female Common Cuckoo (subspecies C. c. canorus) at Rutland Water, Rutland - May 2024

Featured Subspecies: Cuculus canorus canorus
Weight: 115g  /  Length: 32-36cm  /  Wingspan: 55-60cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Cuckoos have numerous things of note to them - they are the only members of their genus found regularly in the UK. They are also famous for their parental techniques - they are brood parasites - they plant their eggs in the nests of other birds to get them to do them for them. They are easily found when they are around by their loud and distinctive call - the "cuckoo" sound of their name. As with many African migrant species however, there have been some harsh declines in recent history, primarily due to trapping migratory species en-route.

Related Species:
Order: Cuculiformes

Family: Cuculidae
Genus: Cuculus
Subspecies: C. c. bangsi, C. c. canorus, C. c. subtelephonus, C. c. bakeri

- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - An uncommon Summer breeding migrant (16,000 pairs)
 - Birds heard in Geddington most years, but rarely seen, also seen and heard at Fermyn Woods and Cliffe Pools
ITALY - Italian - Cuculo ("cuckoo")
A localised resident in coniferous areas
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP: Several heard on Mount Etna
SPAIN - Spanish - Cuco ("cuckoo")
A Summer migrant (subspecies C. c. bangsi)
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Several birds heard at El Pardo

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red ListRSPBWikipedia, Xeno-canto

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