- A cuckoo displays its long tail. Most types of cuckoo are drably colored, in shades of brown and …
The birds known as cuckoos are named for the sounds they make. Because of their shy personality, these birds are more often heard than seen. Where cuckoos liveCuckoos are found throughout the world. They tend to hide in thick vegetation. Two kinds of cuckoos in North America are the black-billed cuckoo and the yellow-billed cuckoo. These birds migrate to the tropics for the winter. The common cuckoo is found throughout Europe and most of Asia. This bird migrates to Africa for the winter. Physical characteristicsCuckoos range in length from about 61/2 to 36 inches (17 to 91 centimeters). Most are drab gray and brown, but a few have bright patches of red or white. One kind of cuckoo, called the glossy cuckoo, has a shining emerald green color. Some of the cuckoos that live in tropical areas have blue feathers on their backs and wings. Most cuckoos are short-winged. All have long tails, usually with the individual feathers tipped with white. The legs are medium to rather long in size. The outer toes on the feet are reversed, which means they point backward. The bill is short and curves down a bit. BehaviorCuckoos feed on insects, including the hairy caterpillar. Because hairy caterpillars are poisonous, most birds will not touch them. However, cuckoos have a special way of eating them so they do not eat the poison. Cuckoos are best known for their habit of laying eggs in the nests of certain other kinds of birds. The other birds keep the cuckoo's eggs warm and care for the young cuckoos. |