The cuckoo, common cuckoo, European cuckoo or Eurasian cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, Cuculiformes, which includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals. This species is a widespread summer …

Female parasitic cuckoos sometimes specialize and lay eggs that closely resemble the eggs of their chosen host. Some birds are able to distinguish cuckoo eggs from their own, leading to those eggs least like the host's being thrown out of the nest. [29]

The Cuckoo is a dove-sized bird with a blue-grey back, head and chest, and stripey black and white belly. Its sleek body, long tail and pointed wings gives it an appearance not unlike Kestrels or Sparrowhawks. Cuckoos are summer visitors and known for being brood parasites.

Each female cuckoo specialises in just one host species, and lays camouflaged eggs in that bird's nest. For example, a cuckoo which lays its eggs in reed warbler nests will lay eggs that look like those of a reed warbler.

The adult female is also usually grey, the hawk-like appearance helping her to access the nests of small birds. Rarely, the adult female Common Cuckoo is rufous brown, known as "hepatic phase" after the colour of liver.

The adult female cuckoo is similar in appearance, but the upper breast may be rufous instead of grey. The juvenile cuckoo has pale brown upperparts with heavy black bars and white-tipped feathers. Its tail has black bars, and the underparts are white with fine dark grey bars.

2024年4月25日 · Using genome-wide association analysis on nuclear DNA from both Common and Oriental cuckoos, the researchers aimed to pinpoint the genetic factors behind the females’ diverse plumage in an attempt to understand the underlying pigmentation mechanisms and the evolutionary history of these traits.

Female Cuckoo: Female cuckoos may appear similar to males but with some variations. The upper breast of a female might display a rufous (reddish-brown) color instead of gray.

Female cuckoos have evolved to lay eggs that closely match those of their chosen host species in both size and colouration. Each female typically specialises in parasitising a specific host species, ensuring better egg mimicry.

Female: Either like the male or red-brown. The adult birds usually have blue-grey head, breast and upperparts, and horizontal barring on the underparts and white spots and tips on the tail. However, the female also exists as a rare rufous "hepatic" morph, so instead of being grey it …