Cuckoo Tracking Project

Help us track Cuckoos and learn even more about their epic migration

We’ve been satellite-tracking Cuckoos since 2011. We’ve learned lots of vital information, such as how the different migration routes are linked to declines, and some of the pressures Cuckoos face whilst on migration, but there is still much more to discover.

An important aspect of this project is how it helps us improve our understanding of why Cuckoo are in decline:

  • Since 1995, the number of Cuckoos has decreased by over 30%.
  • The Cuckoo is currently Red-listed as a Bird of Conservation Concern in the UK.

Our Cuckoo Tracking Project is vital and it wouldn’t be possible without the amazing support from funders and sponsors.

Sponsor a Cuckoo

​What’s next

We now need to look more closely at how dependent Cuckoos are on, and how much their migration is linked to, the drought-busting rains of the weather frontal system known as the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) as they move out of the Congo rainforest and begin to head back to the UK via West Africa.

Watch the Cuckoos migrate on our map

Each Cuckoo’s tag sends us location data approximately every day, so we can follow them and learn more about their migration.

Time / skill required

  • Spend as much time as you like following each Cuckoo's migration on the map below - use the controls to animate or step through their movements.
  • No technical skills are required to support this project - just a love of Cuckoos.

Join the project

Sponsor a Cuckoo

Cuckoo movements from 19 May 2011 to 08 April 2025

View routes starting..
Cuckoo positions on
08 Apr 2025
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Current Cuckoos

Cleeve
ID: 262930
Status: active
Cuach Cores. Cores

Cuach Cores
ID: 242386
Status: active
Cuach Torc. Torc

Cuach Torc
ID: 242384
Status: active
Cuthbert, tagged Cuckoo, 2024 cohort / BTO

Cuthbert
ID: 262937
Status: active

George 2
ID: 262934
Status: active

Hafren
ID: 262938
Status: active

Henry
ID: 262933
Status: active
Joe, Cranwich Heath, 2022. PTT 232670 Joe

Joe
ID: 232670
Status: active
KP. KP

KP
ID: 242388
Status: active

MacSporran
ID: 262931
Status: deceased

Nick 2
ID: 262928
Status: active
Sayaan. Sayaan

Sayaan
ID: 242502
Status: active

Severn
ID: 262932
Status: active
Trent Trent

Trent
ID: 242383
Status: presumed dead
Wilfred, tagged Cuckoo, 2024 cohort / BTO

Wilfrid
ID: 262936
Status: active

View previously tagged birds

Latest updates

Cores for celebration
09 Apr 2025

Cuach Cores, whose last signal was received from Central African Republic back in November, suddenly re-appeared, somewhat Lazurus-like, around midday on 8 April in western Algeria!

He is crossing the Sahara in earnest and appears to be heading directly toward Morocco. As of this morning (9 April) he is currently just south of the town of Mogheul.   

This time last year, he was still in Nigeria, not arriving in Europe until the end of April, when he touched down in Montpelier, France.

Which route will he take this spring?  

Hafren's Spanish flee...
09 Apr 2025

As we expected, Hafren crossed the Mediterranean overnight on 5 April and headed straight inland, passing over Granada and on into central Spain. 

He is currently feeding up and resting on the shores of the Puente Nuevo Reservoir in the province of Córdoba. 

Hafren hoofs it
07 Apr 2025

When we last checked in, just before the weekend, Hafren was close to Mijek in Western Sahara. Since then he has cut up through Morocco, passing close to the cities of Marrakesh and Fes, before arriving on the north Moroccan coast close to Temsaman commune in the Driouch Province, on Saturday.

His most recent signal shows that he has now set off across the Mediterranean. If he crosses without incident, he should make landfall somewhere between Malaga and Almeria.

Browse updates from our Cuckoos

Project Lead
Email Contact:
cuckoos@bto.org

Project timeline, contributions & findings

Project timeline

  • 5/11 - First round of five Cuckoos tagged, wintering sites in the Congo identified 
  • 3/12 - Different routes discovered on return journeys
  • 2016 - First scientific paper published on on the routes of our Cuckoos

Contributions & findings

Support the project

You can help keep this important project going by either giving a donation, becoming a Cuckoo sponsor, or gifting a sponsorship to someone else. We greatly appreciate the support the project has received, allowing us to continue to monitor this endangered species.

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