All species
summer visitor
Red-listedCuckoos
Common Cuckoo
Famous for its two-note call and its habit of laying eggs in other birds' nests. Cuckoos arrive in the United Kingdom from Africa in spring.
Cuculus canorus
Woodland Moorland Reedbeds
Size
32-34 cm
Wingspan
55-60 cm
Weight
105-130 g
Lifespan
4 years
Diet
Hairy caterpillars other birds refuse, plus beetles and other large insects.
Song & Call
The iconic 'cuck-oo' call, often repeated for hours.
Tap play to listen0:00
Speed
Visualizer
Recording by Hannu Varkki · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
How to identify
- Slim grey body
- Long barred tail
- Yellow eye-ring
Conservation
Red-listed
Red-listed due to dramatic population declines; needs host species like reed warblers and dunnocks.
