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;[[:Category:Cuculus|Cuculus]] canorus | ;[[:Category:Cuculus|Cuculus]] canorus | ||
| − | [[Image:Common_Cuckoo.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Daniele Occhiato < | + | [[Image:Common_Cuckoo.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Daniele Occhiato<br>Photo taken: Passo della Raticosa, Tuscany, [[Italy]]]] |
Also known as '''Eurasian Cuckoo'''. | Also known as '''Eurasian Cuckoo'''. | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
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==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | Its food is insects, with hairy caterpillars, which are distasteful to many birds, being a | + | Its food is insects, with hairy caterpillars, which are distasteful to many birds, being a specialty. It is a bird of open land. |
==Bird Song== | ==Bird Song== | ||
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{{GSearch|Cuculus+canorus}} | {{GSearch|Cuculus+canorus}} | ||
*[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=445&Bird_Image_ID=102&Bird_Family_ID=79 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages] | *[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=445&Bird_Image_ID=102&Bird_Family_ID=79 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages] | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Cuculus]] | + | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Cuculus]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] |
Revision as of 19:58, 17 September 2008
- Cuculus canorus
Also known as Eurasian Cuckoo.
Identification
This cuckoo is a greyish bird with a slender body, long tail and strong legs. The females only are sometimes brown, the “hepatic” phase. It looks like a small bird of prey in flight, although the wings stay below the horizontal.
Distribution
Common and very widespread throughout the region. Breeds in the British Isles and mainland Europe from Iberia east to the Urals and Caspian. In the north breeds throughout Scandinavia, except the extreme north coast and north to about 66° N in Russia. In the south breeds along north coast of Mediterranean and on the Balearics, Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily, and throughout most of Turkey. Breeds patchily in the Middle East and in North Africa where confined to parts of the North-West. Has bred on Malta and Cyprus. Strictly migratory, leaving Europe in late-July to early September to winter in tropical Africa and returning mid-April to May although wintering in Europe has been recorded.
Vagrant north to Iceland and Faroes, west to Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands.
Taxonomy
Subspecies: Three races occur in the region, differing slightly in size and minor plumage characters. Nominate occurs over most of range and smaller bangsi in Iberia and North-West Africa which may show distinctly rufous breast in female. Race subtelephonus from east of the Caspian and seen on passage through the Middle East is similar in size to nominate but has narrower bars below.
Habitat
A wide variety of habitats with trees and bushes including open woodland, forest edge and clearings, cultivated land and grassland, reedbeds and marshes.
Behaviour
Its food is insects, with hairy caterpillars, which are distasteful to many birds, being a specialty. It is a bird of open land.
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Cuculus canorus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
