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(ID re-written as copy. Picture of Brown Morph uploaded. Video link. References) |
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| + | '''Alternative name: Eurasian Cuckoo''' | ||
| + | [[Image:Common_Cuckoo.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Daniele+Occhiato|Daniele Occhiato}}<br />Passo della Raticosa, Tuscany, [[Italy]]]] | ||
;[[:Category:Cuculus|Cuculus]] canorus | ;[[:Category:Cuculus|Cuculus]] canorus | ||
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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | + | '''Male''': | |
| + | *Bluish-grey upperparts, head and upper breast | ||
| + | *White belly with dark barring | ||
| + | *Yellow feet, iris and bill base<br /> | ||
| + | '''Female''' - two colour morphs<br /> | ||
| + | :*Grey: similar to male but has a buffish tinge to upper chest | ||
| + | :*Brown: rufous brown upperparts and breast<br /> | ||
| + | [[Image:A00 1028 800w.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Brown Morph<br />Photo by {{user|AJDH|AJDH}}<br />Badaan Farm, [[Bahrain]], April 2008]] | ||
==Distribution== | ==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 [[ | + | 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]]. | Vagrant north to [[Iceland]] and [[Faroes]], west to [[Azores]], [[Madeira]], [[Canary Islands]] and [[Cape Verde Islands]]. | ||
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==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | + | ====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== | |
| − | + | *''C. c. bangsi'': possibly shows distinctly rufous breast in female. | |
| + | :*[[Iberian Peninsula]], [[Balearic Islands]] and north-western [[Africa]]; winters in [[Africa]] | ||
| + | *''C. c. canorus'': | ||
| + | :*[[Europe]], [[Siberia]] to Kamchatka and [[Japan]]; winters to southern [[Africa]] | ||
| + | *''C. c. subtelephonus'': is similar in size to nominate but has narrower bars below. | ||
| + | :*Turkestan to southern [[Mongolia]]; winters to southern [[Asia]] and [[Africa]] | ||
| + | *''C. c. bakeri'': | ||
| + | :*Western [[China]] to northern [[India]], [[Nepal]], [[Burma]], north-western [[Thailand]] and southern [[China]] | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | A wide variety of habitats with trees and bushes including open woodland, forest edge and clearings, cultivated land and grassland, reedbeds and marshes. | + | A wide variety of habitats with trees and bushes including open woodland, moorland, forest edge and clearings, cultivated land and grassland, reedbeds and marshes. |
| − | |||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | Its food is insects, with hairy caterpillars, which are distasteful to many birds, being a specialty. | + | It is a bird of open land. |
| − | + | ====Movement==== | |
| + | Sits horizontally on wires or exposed branches. <br /> | ||
| + | Direct flight, with wings coming below the horizontal | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | Its food is insects, with hairy caterpillars, which are distasteful to many birds, being a specialty. | ||
| + | ====Breeding==== | ||
| + | The female lays an egg which mimicks the eggs of the host species. The hatchling pushes the eggs and young of the host out of the nest. | ||
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
<flashmp3>Cuculus canorus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Cuculus canorus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
''[[Media:Cuculus canorus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Cuculus canorus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6 | ||
| + | #BF Member observations | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Cuculus+canorus}} | {{GSearch|Cuculus+canorus}} | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | {{Video|Common_Cuckoo}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Cuculus]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] | + | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Cuculus]] [[Category:Bird Songs]][[Category:Videos]] |
Revision as of 15:47, 20 September 2009
Alternative name: Eurasian Cuckoo
- Cuculus canorus
Identification
Male:
- Bluish-grey upperparts, head and upper breast
- White belly with dark barring
- Yellow feet, iris and bill base
Female - two colour morphs
- Grey: similar to male but has a buffish tinge to upper chest
- Brown: rufous brown upperparts and breast
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[1]
- C. c. bangsi: possibly shows distinctly rufous breast in female.
- Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands and north-western Africa; winters in Africa
- C. c. canorus:
- C. c. subtelephonus: is similar in size to nominate but has narrower bars below.
- C. c. bakeri:
Habitat
A wide variety of habitats with trees and bushes including open woodland, moorland, forest edge and clearings, cultivated land and grassland, reedbeds and marshes.
Behaviour
It is a bird of open land.
Movement
Sits horizontally on wires or exposed branches.
Direct flight, with wings coming below the horizontal
Diet
Its food is insects, with hairy caterpillars, which are distasteful to many birds, being a specialty.
Breeding
The female lays an egg which mimicks the eggs of the host species. The hatchling pushes the eggs and young of the host out of the nest.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Cuculus canorus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Common Cuckoo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 5 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Common_Cuckoo
External Links
