Great Spotted Cuckoo
Scientific Name: Clamator glandariusMaltese Name: Daqquqa Prima
Family: Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Occurence: Very Scarce
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Great Spotted Cuckoo is a widespread summer migrant to southeast and southwest Europe and western Asia, and winters in Africa. It is a brood parasite, which lays its eggs in the nests of corvids (especially magpies), and starlings. Unlike the Common Cuckoo, neither the hen nor the hatched chick of this species evict the host's eggs, but the young magpies often die because they cannot compete successfully with the cuckoo for food. The adult is grey above with a slender body, long tail and strong legs. It has a grey cap, grey wings, a yellowish face and upper breast, and white underparts. Sexes are similar. The juveniles have blackish upperparts and cap. It is a bird of warm open country with trees. Its food is insects, with hairy caterpillars, which are distasteful to many birds, being a speciality.
Status:
Very Scarce and Irregular migrant.
When to See:
Can be seen from January till October but mostly recorded in March and April.
Where to See:
Best place is probably Comino. Another good place is Foresta 2000.
Photographs:
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Juvenile Great Spotted Cuckoo, 27th March 1994, Comino |
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