Great Spotted Cuckoo
Clamator glandarius (Linnaeus, 1758)
UK
GRSCU
7160
Family: Cuculiformes > Cuculidae
A rare visitor from Southern Europe, this species is a brood parasite. Unlike our Common Cuckoo, however, the female Great Spotted Cuckoo will lay up to five eggs in a single nest.
Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Great Spotted Cuckoo
BTO RECORDS
Identification
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Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
| Species of European Conservation Concern | Vulnerable |
| IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global) |
Least Concern 
|
| Schedule 1 license required (to disturb) | No |
| Birds Directive Annex 1 | No |
POPULATION SIZE
We have no population estimates for this scarce species.
| BOU Category | A |
|
First Record
|
Northumberland, 1870 (Galway, 1842) |
DISTRIBUTION
This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.
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Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore. -
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
DISTRIBUTION CHANGE
This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.
| % change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11) | --100% |
SEASONALITY
Great Spotted Cuckoo is a rare vagrant, usually recorded in spring.
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about Great Spotted Cuckoo, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING
Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.
BIOMETRICS
Sample sizes are too small to report Biometrics for this species.
Feather measurements and photos on featherbase
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
|
Field Codes
|
2-letter: UK | 5-letter code: GRSCU | Euring: 7160 |
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