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 01 May 2024 to 20 March 2025

View routes starting..
Cuckoo positions on
20 Mar 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

No half-measure for Hafren

12 Mar 2025

Having moved from Gabon into the Republic of the Congo in mid-February, Hafren has now made significant headway. After spending a couple of weeks in an area close to the hunting reserve of Domaine de Chasse de Mboko, he set off in a westerly direction, covering some 2,500 km (1,500 miles).

His signal now places him in Côte d'Ivoire (also known as Ivory Coast). He is just 114 km (70 miles) west of the country’s capital city, Yamoussoukro.

Joe jogs on

11 Mar 2025

In recent days Joe has made remarkable progress, covering some 2,500 km (1,500 miles) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo through to Ghana, passing through five African countries en route.

Presently just about bang in the centre of Ghana, he is in the tropical savannah region, close to a large tributary of the Black Volta river.

Cleeve creeps north

11 Mar 2025

Since our last update in mid-February, Cleeve has move slowly northwards. Still in the Republic of the Congo, he is now in the north-west of the country, around 530 km (330 miles) north from his main wintering area.

Close to the northern border of Gabon, he is currently just west of Odzala-Kokoua National Park, one of Africa’s oldest national parks and home to Forest Elephant and Western Lowland Gorilla.

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