cuckoo pair uk

[Wells-man]

I have recently observed over several days what I eventually realised was 2 cuckoos, visiting the paddock behind my garden and even occasionally coming into the garden itself. (I live in semi-rural Hampshire.) This is the first time I've seen cuckoos in the flesh, so naturally my curiosity has been stirred!

Apart from too brief bird guide book entries and indeed the similarly brief birdforum opus entry, I can find out little detail about the habits of the cuckoo. Can anyone point me to a good internet link, or indeed answer a few of my queries?

The 2 appear to be 'courting', though personally I can't discern any visible gender difference in appearance, so I hope they can! They are both predominantly grey .. no rufous female. One sort of displays quite often, lifting its tail above the wings and waggling its bottom. Is this the male or female? Or do both do this at times?

Do they mate for the season/life/one night stand?

I gather the female usually lays her eggs in the nest of the same sort of bird she was herself raised by? Does she lay one per nest? Or just one in total? Or..?

Do the adults take no notice of the young at any stage? Are they normally sociable or solitary birds?

The 2 near me seem to have 2 distinct calls. As well as the stereotypical cuckoo sound, they also make a sort of ch-ch-ch noise, often as they fly, or rather as they are about to land ... a noise a bit like a bad jackdaw or rook impression.

What is the significance of the calls? Warning? Establishing territory, or calling for the mate?

Thanks in advance for any attempts to educate me!

K.

[NoSpringChicken]

They are certainly fascinating birds. I had a lovely clear view of one at Strumpshaw Fen in Norfolk, for the first time this year on Saturday. I would suggest you watch the brilliant Natural World programme on them on this link. It should answer a lot of your questions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00gmxl7/Natural_World_20082009_Cuckoo/

Ron

[Wells-man]

They are certainly fascinating birds. I had a lovely clear view of one at Strumpshaw Fen in Norfolk, for the first time this year on Saturday. I would suggest you watch the brilliant Natural World programme on them on this link. It should answer a lot of your questions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00gmxl7/Natural_World_20082009_Cuckoo/

Ron


Didn't know of that programme. Will watch it this evening. Thanks.

K.

[Stoggler]

Have just watched that programme - fascinating stuff. David Attenborough at his (usual) best, but thought the Cambridge prof was very engaging too.

I had no idea that adult cuckoos were in this country for such a short amount of time. Is it the bird world equivalent of a sex holiday...? ;)

[mikfoz]

Have just watched that programme - fascinating stuff. David Attenborough at his (usual) best, but thought the Cambridge prof was very engaging too.

I had no idea that adult cuckoos were in this country for such a short amount of time. Is it the bird world equivalent of a sex holiday...? ;)

Pretty much. Cuckoos tend to be the wham, bam thank you ma 'am brigade. And you tell me a single animal that wouldn't do the same if it could in order to pass on genes if the strategy worked and the offspring were viable. It's a brilliant example of natural selection favouring a successful and selfish strategy to provide a window for a species to flourish.

[Raptor 01]

When i was about 19 years of age (now 62) I was out early on downland at Brighton and came across both male and female Cuckoos in a tree, the female made a kind of warbling/bubbling sound; I've not heard another female Cuckoo since. About 20 years ago i came across three male Cuckoos in a tree close to where i lived (Eastbourne) and they were squabbling and chasing each other from branch to branch. Sadly, this year I've not yet heard a Cuckoo.

Geoff.

[Stoggler]

Sadly, this year I've not yet heard a Cuckoo.

Geoff.

That's a shame Geoff. Conversely, I've heard more than one this year for the first time in ages, both in Sussex. The Arun valley seems to have a few - have heard them at Arundel and a few miles north in the Amberley/Houghton area.

[Mary]

Pretty much. Cuckoos tend to be the wham, bam thank you ma 'am brigade. And you tell me a single animal that wouldn't do the same if it could in order to pass on genes if the strategy worked and the offspring were viable. It's a brilliant example of natural selection favouring a successful and selfish strategy to provide a window for a species to flourish.

Homo sapiens springs to mind!

[Wells-man]

When i was about 19 years of age (now 62) I was out early on downland at Brighton and came across both male and female Cuckoos in a tree, the female made a kind of warbling/bubbling sound; I've not heard another female Cuckoo since. About 20 years ago i came across three male Cuckoos in a tree close to where i lived (Eastbourne) and they were squabbling and chasing each other from branch to branch. Sadly, this year I've not yet heard a Cuckoo.

Geoff.

Did I understand the TV programme corectly ...does the female never make the cuckoo sound, only the warbling that I feebly tried to describe as ch-ch-ch?


Or is it that the female uses both calls?

K.

[Raptor 01]

Did I understand the TV programme corectly ...does the female never make the cuckoo sound, only the warbling that I feebly tried to describe as ch-ch-ch?


Or is it that the female uses both calls?

K.

Yes, the female only makes the warbling/bubbling sound and I reckon I was extremely privileged to hear one when I was a young man as I've not heard one again since.

Geoff.

[Surreybirder]

Me, too! I've only heard the female once. I have seen a dunnock feeding a juvenile cuckoo, which is also a wondrous sight.
The guy in the aforementioned programme (Prof. Nick Davis) once kindly wrote to me when I was asking some questions about whether the different 'brands' of females should properly be regarded as different species (apparently not!).
He's written a book called Cuckoos, cowbirds and other cheats if anyone wants more info.
I'll attach my short articles on the subject in case anyone's interested.
Ken

[gambirder]

Hi Wells man

I recommend you get a hold of Cuckoos, Cowbirds and other Cheats by N.B. Davies from your local library. Full of fascinating info on cuckoos etc - one of the most enjoyable bird books I've ever read.

[Wells-man]

Me, too! I've only heard the female once. I have seen a dunnock feeding a juvenile cuckoo, which is also a wondrous sight.
The guy in the aforementioned programme (Prof. Nick Davis) once kindly wrote to me when I was asking some questions about whether the different 'brands' of females should properly be regarded as different species (apparently not!).
He's written a book called Cuckoos, cowbirds and other cheats if anyone wants more info.
I'll attach my short articles on the subject in case anyone's interested.
Ken

Interesting articles, and thanks to you and gambirder for the book recommendation.

We're seeing one or more cuckoos for part of most days at the moment. Getting almost blase about it ;) Still can't see a difference between sexes. Clearly I will have to go by the call!

K.