Cuckoos are well-known birds, but their distinctive and eagerly awaited song can be confused with that of several other species, including frequently-encountered species like Collared Dove.
Cuckoos are rarely seen, and when they are, their unusual shape and flight pattern can easily be mistaken for that of a bird of prey. In fact, this iconic bird was once believed to turn into a Sparrowhawk in the winter - neatly explaining its silence and disappearance outside the breeding season.
Our identification video will teach you the song of similar-sounding species, so you can confidently identify a calling Cuckoo. We will also take a look at potential confusion species if you're lucky enough to see a Cuckoo.
Learn more:
Supported by
NatureGuides kindly provide species video clips for our bird identification videos.
