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Common cuckoo

Diputación de Málaga
Cuco

Common cuckoo

Common nameCommon cuckoo
Scientific nameCuculus canorus
HabitatsWoodland environment and scrubland
TypeForestales
StatusEstival
Present
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Wintering Summer Resident Migration
Animal Life > Birds

Medium-sized bird (approx 36 cm or 14 in) with stylized appearance. Long tail and pointed wings. In flight it can be confused with a small bird of prey. Back, head and neck of grey colour (some females with reddish tones) and white underparts with striated bands.

Where it lives

Species linked to woodland areas, regardless of the degree of maturity and density of the trees, riparian woods and marshy environments.

How it lives

Summer bird that breeds in Malaga in April. Parasite habits. It makes an annual laying of up to 25 eggs, each of them in different nests of as many species. The host species will be responsible for the incubation, care and maintenance of the chicks. It feeds on insects, especially larvae and caterpillars of butterflies. Typical territorial call that gives name to the species.

Where it can be seen in Malaga

It is a common species in Malaga but not abundant. It can be watched in stages 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 26 and 32 of the Great Path.

Curious facts

Cuckoo chicks are extremely selfish. They are always hatched a couple of days in advance of their adoptive siblings, which allows them to get rid of the eggs or chicks of the adopted species and thus capture the attention of the owners of the nest in an exclusive manner.

More information