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Common Cuckoo
Cuculus canorus
Migration Flyway
Showing primary migration corridor(s) for this species
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About the Common Cuckoo
The cuckoo, common cuckoo, European cuckoo or Eurasian cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, Cuculiformes, which includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals. This species is a widespread summer migrant to Europe and Asia, and winters in Africa. It is a brood parasite, which means it lays eggs in the nests of other bird species, particularly of dunnocks, meadow pipits, and reed warblers. Although its eggs are larger than those of its hosts, the eggs in each type of host nest resemble the host's eggs. The adult too is a mimic, in its case of the sparrowhawk; since that species is a predator, the mimicry gives the female time to lay her eggs without being attacked.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Cuculus canorus
- Family
- Cuckoos
- Order
- Cuculiformes
Similar species
Other members of the cuckoos family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
- Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus
- Common Squirrel-Cuckoo Piaya cayana
- Dark-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus melacoryphus
- Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus
- Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris
- Lesser Ground-Cuckoo Morococcyx erythropygus
- Lesser Roadrunner Geococcyx velox
- Mangrove Cuckoo Coccyzus minor
- Mexican Squirrel-Cuckoo Piaya mexicana
- Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus optatus
- Pheasant Cuckoo Dromococcyx phasianellus
- Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani
Know when the Common Cuckoo turns up near you
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Optics
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