Convervation status: Red

1 video

Latin name

Cuculus canorus

Family

Cuckoos (Cuculidae)

Overview

The cuckoo is a dove-sized bird with blue grey upper parts, head and chest with dark barred white under parts. With their sleek body, long tail and pointed wings they are not unlike kestrels or sparrowhawks. Sexes are similar and the young are brown. They are summer visitors and well-known brood parasites, the females laying their eggs in the nests of other birds, especially meadow pipits, dunnocks and reed warblers. Their recent population decline makes this a Red List species.

Where to see them

Cuckoos can be seen throughout the UK, but are especially numerous in southern and central England.

When to see them

Adults arrive in late March or April and depart in July or August, with young birds leaving a month or so later.

What they eat

Insects, especially hairy caterpillars.

Estimated numbers

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

In the UK

UK wide

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Sound: David Farrow, Xeno-canto

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Cuckoo

Cuckoo grey female

Cuckoo rufous female

Cuckoo juvenile

Cuckoo - male in flight

Similar birds

Sparrowhawk

Collared dove