Common Cuckoo

A summer visitor more often heard than seen.

A recording has not been added yet. Use the identification notes below for now.

I know this bird · Record a sighting Where to look & how to find it ↓

FIELDCRAFT · FIND WITH CARE

Finding guide

Season first

Choose the season, find the habitat, then watch patiently. Search guidance is not a measure of rarity or conservation status.

When to go: Mainly spring to autumn
Where to start: Open grassland and coastal pasture; stay on paths to protect ground nests.
What to do when you arrive: In spring and summer, listen for the familiar two-note call in open countryside, then scan perches and flying birds from a distance. Do not chase calls across fields or use playback.

Habitat and behaviour reference: BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · The practical steps are editorial advice based on the references, not live sightings.

SPECIES NOTESSpecies notes

How to identify it

Long tail, pointed wings and a fine bill. Typical birds are grey above with barred underparts; some females are rufous. More slender-headed than Sparrowhawk; barring alone is not diagnostic.

Habitat

Grassland, rough pasture, moorland and open fields.

Behaviour

Feeds largely on caterpillars and lays eggs in the nests of other birds.

When to look

Mainly spring to autumn

Where to look

Open grassland and coastal pasture; stay on paths to protect ground nests.

Reference photos do not show every sex, age, season or geographic form; use the identification notes too.

Further reading:BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · Wikipedia ↗

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