cuckoo

Known for its parasitic breeding behaviour and distinctive call, the cuckoo is a fascinating bird species with a wide distribution. This fact sheet provides a detailed overview of the biology and ecology of the cuckoo and highlights the importance of its protection and conservation in natural and human habitats.

cuckoo Products

Profile: cuckoo

  • Scientific classification

    • Class: Aves (birds)
    • Order: Cuculiformes (cuckoo birds)
    • Family: Cuculidae (cuckoos)
    • Genus: Cuculus
    • Species: C. canorus (Cuckoo)

  • Physical characteristics

    • Size: Body length of 32-34 cm
    • Weight: 90-130 g
    • Special features: Long-tailed body, grey-brown plumage with dark horizontal stripes, distinctive light eye ring, striking call.

  • Habitat and distribution

    • Common regions: Europe, Asia, Africa
    • Habitat: Diverse, from forests to open landscapes to gardens and parks; prefers areas with dense vegetation and abundant food.

  • Nutrition

    • Diet: Insectivore
    • Typical food: mostly caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers and other insects, occasionally also small vertebrates and eggs.

  • Reproduction and lifestyle

    • Breeding season: spring to summer
    • Brood parasitism: Female cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species in order to take over brood care.
    • Nestling phase: Cuckoo chicks throw the eggs of the host birds out of the nest and are raised by them.
    • Social structure: Mostly solitary outside the breeding season.

  • Lifespan and protection status

    • Life expectancy: Up to 6 years in the wild
    • Threat status: Not threatened, but habitat loss and fragmentation and declines in host bird species may affect local populations.
    • Conservation measures: Preservation and protection of habitats with suitable breeding sites and food sources, monitoring and research on the population situation.
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