Cuckoo

Name: Cuckoo

Scientific name: Cuculus canorus

Category: Birds

Nature Stars: 60

What are nature stars?

About:

About the size of a Collared Dove, Cuckoos are a scarce summer visitor to most of Britain, arriving in April. The adults leave for Africa almost as soon as they have laid their eggs, by June or July, while the young birds follow them in the autumn.

Cuckoos are famous for laying their eggs in the nests of other birds such as dunnocks, reed warblers and meadow pipits. They play no part in raising their chicks.

Find out more about the Cuckoo on its Beast of the Month page.

How to identify: Cuckoos are sometimes mistaken for Sparrowhawks when flying. However, if seen well, a Cuckoo is unmistakeable.

Where: A widespread summer visitor.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 60
• Agility: 50
• Rarity: 70
• Cute factor: 10
• Traveller: 80

Fantastic fact: Adult cuckoos feed almost entirely on big hairy caterpillars!

Photograph credit: Photo credit tbc