DSC3655 Cuckoo... - a photo on Flickriver

DSC3655 Cuckoo...

            Cuckoo - Cuculus Canorus

The common 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, e that species is a predator, the mimicry gives the female time to lay her eggs without being seen to do so. 
The English word "cuckoo" comes from the Old French cucu and it first appears about 1240 in the poem Sumer Is Icumen In - "Summer has come in / Loudly sing, Cuckoo!" in modern English.
The scientific name is from Latin. Cuculus is "cuckoo" and canorus, "melodious ". 

A study using stuffed bird models found that small birds are less likely to approach common cuckoos that have barred underparts similar to the Eurasian sparrowhawk, a predatory bird. Eurasian reed warblers were found more aggressive to cuckoos that looked less hawk-like, meaning that the resemblance to the hawk helps the cuckoo to access the nests of potential hosts. Other small birds, great tits and blue tits, showed alarm and avoided attending feeders on seeing either (mounted) sparrowhawks or cuckoos; this implies that the cuckoo's hawklike appearance functions as protective mimicry, whether to reduce attacks by hawks or to make brood parasitism easier.

The common cuckoo is an obligate brood parasite; it lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. At the appropriate moment, the hen cuckoo flies down to the host's nest, pushes one egg out of the nest, lays an egg and flies off. The whole process takes about 10 seconds. A female may visit up to 50 nests during a breeding season. Common cuckoos first breed at the age of two years.

More than 100 host species have been recorded: meadow pipit, dunnock and Eurasian reed warbler are the most common hosts in northern Europe; garden warbler, meadow pipit, pied wagtail and European robin in central Europe; brambling and common redstart in Finland; and great reed warbler in Hungary.

Studies were made of 90 great reed warbler nests in central Hungary. There was an "unusually high" frequency of common cuckoo parasitism, with 64% of the nests parasitised. Of the nests targeted by cuckoos, 64% contained one cuckoo egg, 23% had two, 10% had three and 3% had four common cuckoo eggs. In total, 58% of the common cuckoo eggs were laid in nests that were multiply parasitised. When laying eggs in nests already parasitised, the female cuckoos removed one egg at random, showing no discrimination between the great reed warbler eggs and those of other cuckoos.

It was found that nests close to cuckoo perches were most vulnerable: multiple parasitised nests were closest to the vantage points, and unparasitised nests were farthest away. Nearly all the nests "in close vicinity" to the vantage points were parasitised. More visible nests were more likely to be selected by the common cuckoos. Female cuckoos use their vantage points to watch for potential hosts and find it easier to locate the more visible nests while they are egg-laying.

Taken on: June 3, 2021

Tags:

Cuckoo

Cuckoos

Animal

Animals

Birds.

Bird

Bird Photography

Countryside

Copse

Summer Migrant

Farmland

Forest

Forestry

Forests

Fields

Glades

Grasslands

Wildlife.

Wildbirds

Wetlands

Wildlife Photography

Woodlands

Woodland

Moorland

Moors

Marshland

Marshes

Meadows

Mountains

Uplands

Nature

Nature Photography

Nikon

Ornithology

Jeff Lack Photography « less

Sets appears in: • Cuckoo

Groups appears in: • Wildlife Photography • UK Nature more » • NATUREPIX • Flickr Nature • UK Wildlife Trusts • Unlimited Birds • Nature Watch UK • Wings Of The World • The Worlds Best Nature, Wildlife, And Macro Photography • The European Nature And Wildlife Group • WOODLAND Trust • Official National Geographic Group • En armonía con la Naturaleza • Nikon Nature Photography • Wildlife UK • NATURE'S - CREATIONS • National Geographic Wild Life • National Geographic | World Wide • Wales Birders • National Wildlife Magazine Photo Group • #4 PLATINUM WILDLIFE/ Post 1 - Award 1 (P2-A2) with CODE • the RSPB • BBC Springwatch (Official) • Wildlife of the British Isles • Nikon - Nature • National Trust Wildlife • Natural Britain • RSPB Love Nature • World of Birds • *Specialist Nature & Wildlife Photographers* (P1 - A2) • UK - Wildlife & Nature • Flickr Global (Your Best Photographs). • Nature- The Best of Flickr. • Nature's wildlife animals and birds • Outstanding Bird Photography - P1 - A3 (Admin Invite Only) • Great British Wildlife • AWESOME BIRDS ! (Award 2 Please) • Nikon WILDLIFE & NATURE • #3 PALLADIUM WILDLIFE/ Post 1 - Award 5 (P2-A10) with CODE • Wild Bird Photography • MAD about BIRDS! • European Birds and Wildlife • FIELD GUIDE OF BIRDS • *Feathers & Beaks* P1 - A3 • The Best Wildlife Photography on Planet Earth. • Flickr Birds • Incredible Bird Photography • World of Wildlife • UK wild life watching • N-Photo Mag • Nikon Nature • "Watch The Birdie" P2 C2***Only birds*** NO OTHER IMAGES • ! !^Opera Premiere Gallery of Honour • flickr (unofficial) • Nature of the British Isles • Our Wonderful and Fragile World - P1 - A4 • NATURE'S SPIRIT (by invitation) (post 1/award 1) • Wildlife and Landscape Photography • Illuminations Exposé • Treasures of the World • Wildlife Sightings UK • It's a Birder's World • Nature's Elite/PLEASE ONLY NATURE PHOTOS • God's Birds • Illuminations in the Wild • The Wonderful Wildlife UK • This is Nature • Wildlife: 100 views 10 favourites (Strictly enforced) • Worldwide Fauna • The World of Birds • Nature and Animals (Wild Only) • NATURE'S KALEIDOSCOPE P1 X A1 • Stunning wildlife • Nature watch photography. • Nikon Wildlife, Flowers and the Beauty of Nature • The Best of British Birds and Wildlife • WildPlanet • Specialists' Choice Nature & Wildlife (P1 - A2) • Flickrology • The Specialists' Hall of Fame « less

Stats: 9,323 views / 168 comments

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: