Great Spotted Cuckoo
Clamator glandarius
The Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) is a uncommon cuckoo found in 73 countries, weighing about 143 g. The great spotted cuckoo is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals.
About the Great Spotted Cuckoo
The great spotted cuckoo is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This species is slightly larger than the common cuckoo at 35–39 cm (14–15 in) in length, but looks much larger with its broad wings and long narrow tail. The adult is grey above with a slender body, long tail and strong legs. It has a grey cap, grey wings, a yellowish face and upper breast, and white underparts. Sexes are similar. The juveniles have blackish upperparts and cap, and chestnut primary wing feathers. This species has a magpie-like flight. It is a bird of warm open country with trees.
What the Great Spotted Cuckoo sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Georgia, Germany, Sudan, Denmark, Central African Republic, Oman, Finland.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, December, with peak activity in April. It is a passage migrant species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Great Spotted Cuckoo?
- This species is slightly larger than the common cuckoo at 35–39 cm (14–15 in) in length, but looks much larger with its broad wings and long narrow tail. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Great Spotted Cuckoo?
- The Great Spotted Cuckoo is a medium sized bird weighing about 143 g.
- Where can you see a Great Spotted Cuckoo?
- The Great Spotted Cuckoo occurs in 73 countries, including Spain, France, Israel, South Africa and Portugal.
- What does a Great Spotted Cuckoo sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Great Spotted Cuckoo on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Great Spotted Cuckoo?
- The Great Spotted Cuckoo is most easily confused with the Levaillant's Cuckoo, the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo and the Jacobin Cuckoo.
- Is the Great Spotted Cuckoo endangered?
- The Great Spotted Cuckoo is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Great Spotted Cuckoo for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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