Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) **

The Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is a fascinating bird known for its unique breeding strategy and distinctive call. Found across Europe and Asia, this species is famous for its habit of laying eggs in the nests of other bird species, a behavior known as brood parasitism. The female cuckoo carefully selects host nests, typically those of smaller songbirds, where she deposits her eggs, often mimicking the appearance of the host's eggs to avoid detection. Once hatched, the cuckoo chick often outcompetes its nestmates for food, ensuring its survival at the expense of the host's offspring. Despite its deceptive reproductive tactics, the Common Cuckoo is admired for its melodious call, a familiar sound of springtime in many regions. With its sleek gray plumage and striking barred belly, the Common Cuckoo is a symbol of both cunning and natural beauty in the avian world.