Common Cuckoo
Common CuckooCommon CuckooCommon CuckooCommon Cuckoo

Common Cuckoo

Cuculus canorus

Silhouette: Nicolas Huet le Jeune and Jean-Gabriel Prêtre (vectorized by T. Michael Keesey) · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Masai Mara National Reserve
41 Verified sightings at Masai Mara National Reserve From 2019 to 2026
13,003 Verified sightings across all 90 parks From 2019 to 2026
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Common Cuckoo

The cuckoo, common cuckoo, European cuckoo or Eurasian cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, Cuculiformes, which includes the roadrunners, the anis and the coucals. This species is a widespread summer migrant to Europe and Asia, and winters in Africa. It is a brood parasite, which means it lays eggs in the nests of other bird species, particularly of dunnocks, meadow pipits, and reed warblers. Although its eggs are larger than those of its hosts, the eggs in each type of host nest resemble the host's eggs. The adult too is a mimic, in its case of the sparrowhawk; since that species is a predator, the mimicry gives the female time to lay her eggs without being attacked.

The species' binomial name is derived from the Latin cuculus (the cuckoo) and canorus (melodious; from canere, meaning "to sing"). The cuckoo family gets its common name and genus name by onomatopoeia for the call of the male common cuckoo. The English word "cuckoo" comes from the Old French cucu, and its earliest recorded usage in English is from around 1240, in the song Sumer Is Icumen In. The song is written in Middle English, and the first two lines are "Svmer is icumen... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve

Red-chested Cuckoo
LC

Red-chested Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cuculus solitarius

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
African Cuckoo
LC

African Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cuculus gularis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Black Cuckoo
LC

Black Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cuculus clamosus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
White-browed Coucal
LC

White-browed Coucal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Centropus superciliosus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Klaas's Cuckoo
LC

Klaas's Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chrysococcyx klaas

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Black Coucal
LC

Black Coucal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Centropus grillii

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Dideric Cuckoo
LC

Dideric Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chrysococcyx caprius

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Great Spotted Cuckoo
LC

Great Spotted Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Clamator glandarius

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Jacobin Cuckoo
LC

Jacobin Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Clamator jacobinus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
African Emerald Cuckoo
LC

African Emerald Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Levaillant's Cuckoo
LC

Levaillant's Cuckoo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Clamator levaillantii

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~40%
2 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~40%
3 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~40%
4 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~30%
5 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
6 Nikko National Park 🇯🇵 Japan
~30%
7 Mercantour National Park 🇫🇷 France
~20%
8 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~20%
9 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
~20%
10 Jiuzhaigou National Park 🇨🇳 China
~20%
11 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~20%
12 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
13 Ecrins National Park 🇫🇷 France
~20%
14 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~20%
15 Aigüestortes National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~10%
16 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~10%
17 Langtang National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~10%
18 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
~10%
19 Triglav National Park 🇸🇮 Slovenia
~10%
20 Plitvice Lakes National Park 🇭🇷 Croatia
~10%
21 Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~10%
22 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%
23 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~10%
24 Tatra National Park 🇸🇰 Slovakia
~10%
25 Hohe Tauern National Park 🇦🇹 Austria
~10%
26 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
27 Camargue 🇫🇷 France
~10%
28 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
29 Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park 🇲🇳 Mongolia
~10%
30 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
~10%
31 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
32 Khangchendzonga National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
33 Picos de Europa National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
34 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
35 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
36 Royal Bardia National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
<5%
37 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
38 Sierra Nevada National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
39 Vanoise National Park 🇫🇷 France
<5%
40 Royal Manas National Park 🇧🇹 Bhutan
<5%
41 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
42 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
43 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
44 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
45 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
46 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
47 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
48 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
<5%
49 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
<5%
50 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
51 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
52 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
53 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
54 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
55 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
56 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
57 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
58 Manas National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
59 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
60 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
61 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
62 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
63 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
64 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
65 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
66 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
67 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
68 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
69 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
70 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
71 Gir National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
72 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
73 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
74 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data
75 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
76 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
77 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
78 Mudumalai National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
79 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
80 Periyar National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
81 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
82 Cat Tien National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
Insufficient data
83 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
84 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
85 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
86 Namdapha National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
87 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
Insufficient data
88 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
89 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
90 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Common Cuckoo in Masai Mara National Reserve?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Common Cuckoo sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 41 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Common Cuckoo in Masai Mara National Reserve?

November has the highest sighting rate for Common Cuckoo in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.

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