Common Cuckoo
Cuculus canorus
Least Concern
The Common Cuckoo makes the famous 'cuck-oo!' call that inspired cuckoo clocks! But this bird has a sneaky secret - it's a 'brood parasite' that lays its eggs in other birds' nests.
The cuckoo chick hatches early and pushes the other eggs out of the nest! The foster parents don't notice and raise the much larger cuckoo chick as their own.
Size
About the size of a dove
Medium (25-40 cm)
Wingspan: 60 cm
Weight: 115 g
Colors
gray
white
black
Habitat
forestgrassland
Diet
insects
Fun Facts
- ✨They inspired the cuckoo clock with their famous call!
- ✨Cuckoo eggs can match the color of their host's eggs!
- ✨Baby cuckoos push other eggs out of the nest!
- ✨Hearing a cuckoo is a traditional sign of spring in Europe.
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great news! This bird is doing well. There are lots of them in the wild, and they have safe places to live and find food.
Population trend: stable ➡️