Cuckoo

When: Summer

 

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Scientific name: Cuculus canorus

Gaelic name: cuthag

Scots Name: gowkk, gokk

Size: dove sized bird, wingspan around 60cm

Good places to see them in the Inner Forth: Various habitats; Kinneil foreshore and lagoons, farm fields

The wily cuckoo is a thrilling sight for all, its deceptive habits having often been pondered in the past. Occasionally mistaken for kestrels or sparrowhawks, these dove sized birds have distinctive barred feathering on their underparts, with upper parts a bluish grey colour and tell tale orange beady eyes.

This bird has a, not undue, reputation as being sly and canny because of its parasitic breeding habits. The female will lay her eggs in the nests of other species, shirking her parenting responsibilities and leaving the parenting to the unwitting guardians of the invaded nest. The most common species targeted by the cuckoo are meadow pipits, dunnocks and reed warblers, with female cuckoos often favouring the species that nutured them as a chick. The hen will also adapt her egg to look like those that are already in the nest, The whole affair is very carefully planned and executed!

Cuckoos have long been a subject of Scottish folklore, featuring in proverbs, poems and lovesongs. It was once believed that it was unlucky to hear a cuckoo on an empty stomach; to ensure an auspicious start to the day, the most superstitious of folk kept a piece of oatcake under their pillow to be snaffled upon waking, avoiding the misfortune of cuckoo's curse!

Find out more at - https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/c/cuckoo/index.aspx