Status in UK:
(A) Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies:canorus recorded in Britain (of 4 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
33 cm
Wingspan:
58 cm
Weight:
M: 130 g F: 110 g
Scientific name from:
L.: cuculus=the cuckoo
and L.: canorus=melodius (from canere=to sing)
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Europe, Asia, n Africa, WINTERS: south to s Africa, s Asia
Habitat:
Open woodland, taiga, steppe forest
Diet:
Insects, esp. large, hairy caterpillars avoided by others and beetles
TitBit:
Females lay their eggs in the nest of the species which raised them (Dunnock, Reed Warbler and Meadow Pipit are current favoured 'hosts'). A single female may visit up to 50 nests each year.