Cuckoo Survey | CEDaR Online Recording

Mark the return of Spring by listening out for the cuckoo!

Help record what is for many the distinctive sound of Spring – the call of the cuckoo.

If you see or hear a cuckoo please submit your record below.

© Anthony McGeehan, www.facebook.com/anthonymcgeehan

Colouring: Upper parts: blue-grey; breast: dark-barred white; males and females similar; juvenilles grey-brown and heavily streaked.

Size/shape: Dove size. Slim body, pointed wings - like small bird of prey e.g. kestrel or sparrowhawk.

Call: Cuc-oo (males). Bubbling call (females). Call throughout spring. To hear it, visit the RSPB website. This bird is much more likely to be heard than seen.

Timing: Arrive from Africa in April and May.

Strategy: Don't build nests, but use those of other birds e.g. dunnocks, meadow pipits etc. In host bird's nest, female cuckoo removes one egg and lays one of her own. Host bird brings up large cuckoo chick which pushes the remaining eggs or chicks out of the nest.

Occurrence: Found across Northern Ireland. More common in western parts but occurs in east also e.g. Murlough National Nature Reserve in Co. Down.

Habitat: Wide variety but prefers rough marginal land such as hillsides, heathland, scrub and marshes.

Status: Rapidly declining species. Red listed as a bird of conservation concern in UK. Northern Ireland Priority Species. Protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (NI)Order 1985 (as amended).

Threats: Land use changes leading to loss of preferred habitats such as wetlands and marginal land.

Call often mistaken for: Collared Dove or Wood Pigeon

Important: if you use this site regularly, please remember to login.

This will give you access to the My Records report which allows you to manage your data.

Please provide as much information as possible about your Cuckoo sighting(s).

Abundance:

Provide an indication of adbundance.

Seen or heard:

Determiner:

If you have had an expert confirm the identification of a record please add their name in the 'Determiner' field. This will help when the record is being verified.

Certainty:

Record comment:

Photos:

Your details (please note: We will only use your email address if we need to contact you about your record.
If you are logged into the system, please do not lock these values. The information will be auto-filled from your account profile. ).

Your contact details

Email: *

First name: *

Last name: *

Telephone Number:

Any additional recorder(s) names.

Name(s) of any additional recorder(s):

Date of your sighting.

Date of sighting (required): *

Please provide the spatial reference and site name for the record.

Search for a place on the map:

This gives us an approximate grid reference for the location. We'll then move the map so that you can click on it to provide an accurate position for the record(s). Note: contents of this field will not be retained as part of the record.

Spatial reference: *

By clicking on the map the spatial reference will autofill. The more you zoom in, the more accurate the grid reference.

Site name: *

For example the nearest town, village, park, nature reserve etc.
Do not enter a postal address as the information you provide will be visible to others.

Habitat:

Notes about using the map:
use the + sign on the right hand side of the map to change the base mapping used from Google to OpenStreetMap.
To create an accurate and useful record, use your mouse to drag the area of interest to the centre of the map window and use the zoombar on the left hand side to zoom in tight to the area where you made the sighting. When you have zoomed in, click on the location - this will autofill the Spatial Reference box above.