How to Identify a Cuckoo ~ What Do Cuckoos Look Like ?
How to Identify a Cuckoo ~ What Do Cuckoos Look Like ?
You hear cuckoos before you see them and to me their distinctive sound is synonymous with the onset of summer.
I heard the first one of the year the other day and it took me back many years.
What are the myths, stories and sayings that surround the cuckoo ?
I heard the bird call whilst walking round Tetney Blow Wells and was immediately transported back in time. (picture of bird taken at Town’s Holt subsequently)
Right back to boyhood and a forest in Germany - it was a memory greater in vividity than much I’ve done this week - very strange indeed.
There is a saying in Germany that when you hear the first cuckoo of the year you should take your purse or wallet out and pat it - it will then stay full all year.
I’m sure that came from my Grandfather so in that spirit I did just that - removed my wallet and gave it a little pat - let’s hope there’s something in the myth.
I looked all over but for the life of me couldn’t see it. There’s an irony in the fact the warmer weather is coming making days out walking and looking at wildlife all the more pleasurable but the new growth in foliage and leaves makes everything ever harder to see - let alone photograph.
Of course, the thing most of us think when this bird is mentioned is the phrase . . .
A Cuckoo in the Nest
They are famous for laying their eggs in the nests of other birds and letting them hatch, rear and feed them. We’ve all seen the pictures of some poor Reed Warbler or the like trying to feed a chick twice its own size.
Most species of cuckoos do in fact raise their own young and their distinctive bird call, from which their name derives, is only made by the male, the female has what is described as a ‘babbling call’
Cuculus Canorus, as seen here on the left (a male), is about 13 inches or so in height with a distinctive front, the male has grey wings, back, hood and bib whilst the female has brown. They’re widespread but as previously mentioned more often heard than seen.
This one was in woodland behind my house and he had me wandering all over trying to pin down the source of the call - at one point I began to wonder whether he was simply mocking me but in the end he rewarded my patient stalking and posed for a picture whilst perched in the top of a tree.
The bird is a summer visitor, adults arriving late March or April and leaving July or August, to the shores of the UK and although described as ‘common’ their numbers are in decline, so much so that the RSPB have now given the bird Red Status !
I’m pleased with the picture, especially the eye, but more pleased with the memories evoked of a time long passed but thankfully not forgotten
I’d be interested to hear more about this bird so if you know anything or have heard any stories or tales about them etc then please do leave a comment.
All the best
Rod
Rev. Enant said,
May 24, 2010 @ 11:53 pm
Yet another absolutely first class photo, ‘though, as Amiguru already commented it would be nice if you gave some technical details to appease us: “image capturing anoraks”, among your readers! Did you notice, as your photo almost shows, that cuckoos have two toes forward and two aft?
Cuckoos do indeed seem to be fewer in number each passing year, last year being the first year that I failed to hear or see a female cuckoo; and the males appear to be arriving later this past ten years.
….looking forward to many more challenging wildlife shots from your nature forays, waiting to be astounded by a photo of a bat in flight!
Rod said,
May 25, 2010 @ 7:28 am
Rev Enant,
thanks for taking the time to comment, welcome to the site and hope to hear from you again.
Boring info as requested,
F: 5.0
Shutter speed: 1/800
ISO: 400
I had no idea about the toes Rev, I think I would agree with you about the anecdotal evidence regarding their numbers, I’m not sure I heard on e last year either.
I’ll report back if I hear any more elsewhere, so far 2 and counting.
I’ll work on the bat
- I know I missed a Marsh Harrier and a Bittern ysterday 
Still plenty to go at
Thanks again Rev
All the best
Rod
Amiguru said,
May 25, 2010 @ 12:40 pm
Rod,
Magnificent picture and well worth the stalk. Strangely, I heard my first cuckoo of the year yesterday, however, it would have been a waste of time turning over my wallet as it was totally empty at the time! That action may well have kept it empty….
“Right back to boyhood and a forest in Germany” Ye gods Rod you seem to have followed in my footsteps in many ways! I went to Germany for 6 weeks when I was 16 in 1958 and was based at a monastery in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. One day my German friend and I were caught out in total blackness descending a 6000 ft. forested mountain scree slope and I at one point was dangling by my elbows over a precipice
Thanks for the support in lobbying for info Rev, its not boring is it? We’ll be asking for exif data and histograms next
Regards,
Neville
Rod said,
May 25, 2010 @ 4:14 pm
Neville,
that sounds like a real Boy’s Own Adventure Story - Germany’s a great place, I’ve been many times and would happily go again if they somehow made it contiguous with Lincolnshire
If picture info is of interest then I can add some, exactly what info would you like to see ?
Best
Rod
Little Brother said,
May 25, 2010 @ 4:35 pm
Rod,
Lovely picture, well captured.
LB
Amiguru said,
May 25, 2010 @ 9:23 pm
Rod,
“If picture info is of interest then I can add some, exactly what info would you like to see ?”
For my choice it would be stop size, shutter speed, focal length of lens and tripod or hand-held. Not really trying to get too technical, just interested as to how these impinge upon the image. This would only apply to natural history subjects as for others it doesn’t impinge on the results much.
Another technical query…why won’t Wordpress allow bbcode for underscore as emboldening is a bit extreme sometimes…as if shouting?
Regards,
Neville
Rod said,
May 26, 2010 @ 7:03 am
Neville,
OK, got that (also ISO I presume ?), I wonder whether a thread on bird pictures would be worthwhile ?
I’m doing a lot of experimenting so it may be worth documenting how it’s going - just a thought.
It could then be added to as and when
allow bbcode for underscore
it’s because this is a proper website
Certain html tags work in comments but most HTML is stripped out of comments because I have to be careful what people put onto the site.
Allowing users to post their own content is a potential minefield Neville.
As to underscores, with respect I think they’re a bad idea as they’re synonymous with links, especially nowadays as many sites have gone away from default blue link anchor text.
To stress something I think bold or italic should be fine, to me caps lock is shouting.
Sorry for the inconvenience
Regards
Rod
Amiguru said,
May 26, 2010 @ 10:32 am
Rod,
A Rod’s mini-WAB sounds like a good idea
For me ISO, (pseudo film speed), isn’t quite so relevant so yay or nay, as you will, depends what others would like. Don’t want to make a big fuss of this as it does then become a bit nerdy.
I can see what you mean about the underline issue, thanks for that.
Regards,
Neville
Elsa Green said,
September 2, 2010 @ 10:07 am
Hullo Neville, trying to identify a pair of birds seen one morning recently in our garden in the grass. The size I suspect of a cuckoo, white, grey and with distinctive black markings down the back. Is this a male cuckoo?
We do hear cuckoos earlier in the year but never seen them and amongst the very variable birds around here it has not been seen in our garden before. Unfortunately I didn’t manage to gat a photo. WE are at almost 1000 feet here in Peeblesshire , Scotland.
Can you help? Elsa.
Amiguru said,
September 2, 2010 @ 3:58 pm
Elsa,
First of all, on Rod’s behalf, may I welcome you to the site.
Sorry I didn’t notice earlier your comment in the cascade. It is not easy to give a definitive answer to your question from a brief description but I suggest you ‘Google’ “cuckoo” under ‘Images’ and see if any come close to what you saw. The following hints might be useful in making up your mind.
Male birds of any species tend to be more ‘colourful’. “distinctive black markings down the back” would make me query the ID as a cuckoo because though the male has blackish wings and tail I wouldn’t say ‘distinctive black markings‘.
There is no problem with 1000 feet but they would need to be within easy reach of woodland, or at least trees. They do feed on the ground on beetles and the like so no problem there.
The cuckoo inhabits as far as Scandinavia in summer so no problem with Peebleshire. Cuckoos are now on the ‘red’ endangered list so if that is what you have, welcome them!
I shall have further thoughts as to what else they might be and get back to you in due course. Even if we don’t resolve your question, do have a look around as there is a lot of fascinating stuff here, not just Lincolnshire orientated.
Regards,
Neville
Rod said,
May 20, 2011 @ 4:17 pm
Amazingly I heard the Cuckoo yesterday and today for the first time this year - check the date of this comment and the one on the original post !!!!