Common cuckoo Common cuckoo The common 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 migrant to Europe and Asia, and winters in Africa. It is a brood parasite, which means it lays eggs in the nests of other bird species, particularly of dunnocks, meadow pipits, and reed warblers. Although its eggs are larger than those of its hosts, the eggs in each type of host nest resemble the host's eggs. The adult too is a mimic, in its case of the sparrowhawk;
Diederik cuckoo and caterpillars. It is a noisy species, with the persistent and loud "deed-deed-deed-deed-er-ick" call from which it gets its name. Usually four clear, roughly identical, notes followed by a little twitter. It is a common resident breeder in Sub-Saharan Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula. It has been recorded as far north as Cyprus (1982). It is a short-distance seasonal migrant, moving with the rains. It is a solitary bird, found in open woodland, savanna and riverside bushes. The genus name "Chrysococcyx" is Greek for gold cuckoo ("χρυσός", "κούκος"). The specific name "caprius" is thought to be a misprint for