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'''Alternative name: Eurasian Cuckoo''' | '''Alternative name: Eurasian Cuckoo''' | ||
| − | [[Image:Common_Cuckoo.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Daniele+Occhiato|Daniele Occhiato}}<br />Passo della Raticosa, Tuscany, [[Italy]]]] | + | [[Image:Common_Cuckoo.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Nominate Subspecies<br />Photo by {{user|Daniele+Occhiato|Daniele Occhiato}}<br />Passo della Raticosa, Tuscany, [[Italy]]]] |
;[[:Category:Cuculus|Cuculus]] canorus | ;[[:Category:Cuculus|Cuculus]] canorus | ||
| + | [[Image:common_cuckoo_alok.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''C. c. bakeri''<br />Photo by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />[[Keoladeo National Park]], Bharatpur, [[India]], 23 June 2017]] | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | |||
'''Male''': | '''Male''': | ||
*Bluish-grey upperparts, head and upper breast | *Bluish-grey upperparts, head and upper breast | ||
| Line 11: | Line 13: | ||
:*Brown: rufous brown upperparts and breast<br /> | :*Brown: rufous brown upperparts and breast<br /> | ||
In both sexes, the underwing shows a pattern of pale, dark, white, dark from front to back, and the tail feathers show a pattern or white spots or bands. | In both sexes, the underwing shows a pattern of pale, dark, white, dark from front to back, and the tail feathers show a pattern or white spots or bands. | ||
| − | |||
==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 North [[Africa]] where confined to parts of the North-West. Has bred on [[Malta]] and [[Cyprus]]. | 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]]. | ||
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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]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | [[Image: | + | [[Image:A00 1028 800w.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Brown Morph<br />Photo by {{user|AJDH|AJDH}}<br />Badaan Farm, [[Bahrain]], April 2008]] |
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| + | [[Image:Cuckoo_flying_by_JimMorris.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''C. c. bangsi'' Brown Morph<br />Photo by {{user|JimMorris|JimMorris}}<br />Extremadura, [[Spain]], May 2009]] | ||
There are 4 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | There are 4 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
*''C. c. bangsi'': possibly shows distinctly rufous breast in female. | *''C. c. bangsi'': possibly shows distinctly rufous breast in female. | ||
| Line 31: | Line 33: | ||
:*Western [[China]] to northern [[India]], [[Nepal]], [[Burma]], north-western [[Thailand]] and southern [[China]] | :*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, moorland, 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== | ||
It is a bird of open land. | It is a bird of open land. | ||
====Movement==== | ====Movement==== | ||
| + | |||
Sits horizontally on wires or exposed branches. <br /> | Sits horizontally on wires or exposed branches. <br /> | ||
Direct flight, with wings coming below the horizontal | Direct flight, with wings coming below the horizontal | ||
| Line 42: | Line 45: | ||
====Breeding==== | ====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. | 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. | ||
| + | [[Image:Juvenile Cuckoo copy.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Nominate subspecies Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|nkgray|nkgray}}<br />Attadale, Ross and Cromarty, [[Scotland]], August 2008 ]] | ||
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
| − | + | {{ Audio|Cuculus canorus (song).mp3 }} | |
| − | + | ||
| + | {{ Audio|common_cuckoo.mp3 }} | ||
| + | |||
| + | Recording by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br /> | ||
| + | [[Keoladeo National Park]], Bharatpur, Rajasthan, [[India]], June-2017<br /> | ||
| + | Call given by one bird. Brief calls by Jacobin Cuckoo, Red-wattled Lapwing, Asian Pied Starling and Western Koel, too are heard, in the BG. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6 |
#BF Member observations | #BF Member observations | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | {{GSearch|Cuculus | + | {{GSearch|"Cuculus canorus" {{!}} "Common Cuckoo"}} |
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | {{VSearch|"Cuculus canorus" {{!}} "Common Cuckoo"}} | ||
| + | {{GS-checked}}1 | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
| − | |||
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Cuculus]] [[Category:Bird Songs]][[Category:Videos]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Cuculus]] [[Category:Bird Songs]][[Category:Videos]] | ||
Latest revision as of 19:02, 20 June 2023
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
In both sexes, the underwing shows a pattern of pale, dark, white, dark from front to back, and the tail feathers show a pattern or white spots or bands.
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
There are 4 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
Recording by Alok Tewari
Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, June-2017
Call given by one bird. Brief calls by Jacobin Cuckoo, Red-wattled Lapwing, Asian Pied Starling and Western Koel, too are heard, in the BG.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- 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 4 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Common_Cuckoo
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
