Learn what every symbol on the card means.Full credits and sources at beakbrain.com/symbols
ShrublandMedium · 143 g
What the Great Spotted Cuckoo sounds like
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Great Spotted Cuckoo
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 8 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is April, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Great Spotted Cuckoo
The map shades 61 countries with regular records, and 12 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, Georgia, Germany, Ukraine, Sudan, Denmark, Central African Republic, Oman, Finland.
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.
Easily confused with
Levaillant's CuckooClamator levaillantiiThe cuckoo is 37.5 cm (15 in) long, longer tailed than pied cuckoo, and with a more heavily streaked throat.
Chestnut-winged CuckooClamator coromandusThis dark and crested cuckoo has chestnut wings, a glossy black crest and a graduated tail (the feathers shortening in steps from the center outwards) whose terminal edges are white and inconspicuous unlike the white tips of the Jacobin cuckoo which is found in parts of its range.
Jacobin CuckooClamator jacobinusThis medium-sized, slim black and white cuckoo with a crest is distinctive.
Side by side: Great Spotted Cuckoo vs Jacobin Cuckoo · Great Spotted Cuckoo vs Pallid Cuckoo · Great Spotted Cuckoo vs Levaillant's Cuckoo · Chestnut-winged Cuckoo vs Great Spotted Cuckoo
Learn the Great Spotted Cuckoo in the BeakBrain App
Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Play today's Daily BirdEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.