Herald of spring, the cuckoo nevertheless has a reproduction technique which can sow discord in the nests. But it can also be very useful to gardeners, especially if pine trees are planted. Discover the unusual behavior and characteristics of this bird.
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What to plant, sow or harvest in April?
What is a gray cuckoo?
“Grey cuckoo” is the vernacular name given to the
cuculus canorus
, a migratory bird easily observed in France and the rest of Europe. Typically measuring 35 cm in height and around 60 cm in wingspan, it is approximately the size of a hawk or small hawk. An insectivore, it feeds mainly on caterpillars, grasshoppers and even dragonflies. The fact that it devours caterpillars makes it a great ally for naturally eliminating pests present in vegetable gardens.
How to recognize a gray cuckoo?
The first element that allows you to recognize a gray cuckoo is its characteristic
song
. Performed in two stages, it can recall the sound emitted by the eponymous wooden clock when a time change occurs. Moreover, hearing the song of the gray cuckoo is often considered a sign of happiness or fortune.
The second element that makes it easy to distinguish this bird is its
plumage
. Males can be recognized by their gray belly covered with small dark stripes. As for their wings, they are brown. Finally, it is easy to observe gray cuckoos on high points. They can be placed on wooden posts or high branches.
Also read: 5 applications to identify birds
Where does the gray cuckoo live?
The gray cuckoo lives in two major regions of the world depending on the season. It spends the winter warm in the southern part of the African continent. But in spring, it returns to nest across the entire European continent. It is also an easy bird to observe in the French countryside. However, it does not have a preference for its habitat. It generally occupies a place where it can find nests of other birds. In fact, it can be observed in the countryside as well as in gardens or even in the forest. In some cases, it is even possible to see gray cuckoos flying in the mountains up to 2,000 meters above sea level.
How does a gray cuckoo behave?
The gray cuckoo's attitude towards reproduction can be surprising in more than one way. First of all, birds are polygamous and separate immediately after mating. But it is after this key stage that the true nature of the female cuckoo is revealed. She discreetly observes nests of various birds: robin, wagtail, warbler, etc. Then, when the two parents move away from the nest, the female cuckoo settles there, ejects an egg already installed then lays her own. Then, she lets the other birds take care of the future little cuckoo, from hatching until it flies away.
Once it is born, the cuckoo ejects the other eggs so that the adoptive mother mainly takes care of it.