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13

Great Spotted Cuckoo

(Clamator glandarius)
German name(s): "Häherkuckuck"
Size: 35-39 cm; wing span 58-60 cm
Weight: ca. 125 g (average)
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Great Spotted Cuckoo at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Great Spotted Cuckoo looking at the observer (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view of a Great Spotted Cuckoo (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view of a Great Spotted Cuckoo looking at the observer (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view of a Great Spotted Cuckoo (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view of a Great Spotted Cuckoo together with a Corn Bunting (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

Lateral view of a Great Spotted Cuckoo together with a Corn Bunting and a Western Yellow Wagtail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

Somewhat unsharp lateral/ventral view of a Great Spotted Cuckoo in what looks like a display posture, with cocked tail and drooping wings (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2014]

Behaviour

Note that, in general, cuckoos host on smaller birds. However, the listed breeding hosts of the Great Spotted Cuckoo are Iberian Magpies, Eurasian Magpies, or Carrion Crows, which are the same size - or larger than - the cuckoo. Therefore, it may be significant that we have observed a Great Spotted Cuckoo being accompanied for a period of 15 minutes by a Corn Bunting.

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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