Common Cuckoo - Journey to Almaty
Credit: Ron Knight

North American field guide

Common Cuckoo

Cuculus canorus

Also known as:European Cuckoo

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Identification

Field notes

33 cm (13") Eurasian species. Rare visitor to Aleutians and Pribilofs.

Resembles Oriental Cuckoo. Grayish above; light below. Long tail. Heavily barred across lower breast and belly. A rusty-brown hepatic phase has barring above and below.

In flight; resembles a small falcon.

Song: "cuc-oo".

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Videos

2 videos
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Common Cuckoo

1 rule
Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 1
What SIZE was the TAIL ?
Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour was the TAIL ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, brownish red, cinnamon · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?
Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
Was the BELLY STREAKED or BARRED ?
Yes · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?
Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?
White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?
Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northwestern Canada or United States
result:473-common-cuckoo:1:1 Source: 473 Common Cuckoo, row 1