AI overview
The Common Cuckoo is a migratory bird species found across Europe, Asia, and Africa that is famous for laying its eggs in the nests of other birds rather than raising its own young. This behavior makes it an important subject for studying animal reproduction and adaptation in nature.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Cuculus
- Award
- Bird of the Year
- Mass
- +106
- Image
- Cuculus canorus2.jpg
Show 6 more facts
- P105
- species
- P141
- Least Concern
- P1552
- oviparity
- P9714
- Africa
- P1034
Article
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.