Common name: Common Cuckoo
Scientific name: Cuculus canorus
Family: Cuculidae

Size:
Body length: 32–34 cm
Wingspan: 55–60 cm
Weight: 90–130 g

Identification:
A slender, medium-sized bird resembling a small hawk in flight. It has grey upperparts, a pale underbody with fine dark barring, and a long tail with white spots. The wings are pointed, and the flight is swift and direct. The yellow eye-ring and sharp expression add to its distinctive look. Females may show a rufous (brownish) morph.

Habitat:
Open woodlands, forests, farmland, scrublands, and mountainous areas. Often found in areas with a good presence of host species.

Status in Lebanon:
Passage migrant and summer visitor. Recorded during migration and breeding season in suitable habitats.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds mainly on insects, especially caterpillars (including hairy species avoided by other birds), as well as beetles and other invertebrates.

Behavior:
Famous for brood parasitism—lays eggs in nests of other bird species. The chick often ejects host eggs or chicks to monopolize food. Usually solitary and elusive. Known for its iconic “cuckoo” call during the breeding season.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List), but declining in parts of its range