10 Facts about Cuckoos

If you want to know one of the interesting bird families, let’s take a look at Facts about Cuckoos. The members of this family are anis, couas, roadrunners, koels, European cuckoo, coucals and malkohas. If we talk about the general characteristics of cuckoos, most of them are arboreal birds. The body is in medium size. Some species of cuckoos are migratory, while most of them are tropical. Check other facts about cuckoos below:

Facts about Cuckoos 1: cuckoos and human culture

The presence of cuckoos cannot be separated from human culture. The ancient Greek people considered cuckoos as a sacred bird of Hera.

Facts about Cuckoos 2: cuckoos in Europe

The presence of cuckoos is always connected with cuckoldry and spring season in Europe.  It is a symbol of unreciprocated love in Japan.

Cuckoos Beauty

Facts about Cuckoos 3: the main food of cuckoos

Cuckoos eat different kinds of foods such as fruit, insect larvae and insects.  Some cuckoos place their eggs on the next of other birds. Therefore, they are called as brood parasites.

Facts about Cuckoos 4: the size of cuckoos

The body of cuckoos has medium size. The smallest one is around 6 inches with the weight at 17 gram. This size can be seen on the little bronze cuckoo. The largest one is the channel billed cuckoo. It has the length at 25 inches or 63 cm. The weight is 1.4 lbs or 630 gram.

Cuckoos Facts

Facts about Cuckoos 5: the sexual dimorphism

The sexual dimorphism is hardly recognized. However, the female cuckoos usually are larger than the male counterparts.

Facts about Cuckoos 6: zygodactyls

Zygodactyls are the appropriate term used to define the unique feature of cuckoos.  The birds have the two outer toes point backward, while the two inner toes point forward.

Cuckoos Colors

Facts about Cuckoos 7: the difference of terrestrial and arboreal species of cuckoos

One example of terrestrial species of cuckoos is roadrunners. They have long tarsi and heavy set. On the other hand, the short tarsi and slender body are spotted on the arboreal cuckoos. Check facts about crows here.

Facts about Cuckoos 8: the function of long tails

Both arboreal and terrestrial species of cuckoos have a long tail. The arboreal species uses the tail for rudder when they fly. The terrestrial species uses it for steering.

Cuckoos Images

Facts about Cuckoos 9: the different wing shape

The wing shape of cuckoos is different based on the lifestyle. The shorter and rounded wings are owned by sedentary and terrestrial cuckoos. The long narrow wings are owned by the migratory species. Find facts about bluebird here.

Facts about Cuckoos 10: the feathers

Cuckoos have soft feathers. During the heavy rain, the feathers log the waters. After the rain is over, they will sunbath to make the feather dry.

Facts about Cuckoos

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