The cuckoo’s breeding season is from May through July. The cuckoo is known for laying its eggs in the nests of other bird species including pipits, warblers, and robins. Once a suitable nest is found, the laying female sits down on the nest and lays the egg. If the nest is situated such that this is not possible, see will lay the egg nearby on the ground, place the egg in her bill, and carry the egg to the nest. The eggs of the cuckoo are extraordinarily small. The color resembles that of the birds into which nest the eggs will be placed. Each female puts only one egg into the nest, usually only if the nesting bird already has her own eggs in place. Each cuckoo may lay up to 25 eggs, 1 per nest. The egg hatches in the nest after approximately 12 days at which point the nesting mother bird will feed the cuckoo as if it is her own. The cuckoo bird will throw any remaining birds or eggs from the nest, leaving it as the sole bird receiving food from the nesting mother. The smaller host parents incubate the egg and feed the young cuckoo. The host parents will continue to feed the cuckoo even after it grows to be much larger than they are. A cuckoo chick will also use its call to lure birds other than its host parents to feed it.

» Length: 11 inches
» Weight: 4 oz.
» Description: Male and female adults look similar, but the immature cuckoo has a white spot on the nape of its neck. Its plumage is often red-brown instead of gray with stripes.
» Wingspan: 20-24 inches.
» Habitat: Generally considered a tree bird, he can also be found outside of the forest. Each male maintains a large territory and defends it against competitors