Page 436 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

CUCKOOS/PARROTS/OWLS
Family Cuculidae Species Clamator glandarius Family Cuculidae Species Coccyzus americanus
Great Spotted Cuckoo Yellow-billed Cuckoo

This unusual-looking bird is quite unlike the Cuckoo A small, neat, white-breasted cuckoo, the Yellow-billed
(see p.237). In flight, it is long and slim, with broad- Cuckoo is pale brown above with rusty wingtips
based, tapered, slightly rounded wings and a long, and black tail sides with big white spots. black-tipped
narrow tail, its head small and held up, the chest rather The white tail feather tips may be yellow bill
deep.Adults are grey above, with white spots, whitish obvious when perched.
below, and grey on the crown. Juveniles have a black The small eyes are dark, pale
brown
cap, darker back with pale spots, and a rusty outer and the bill short and above
wing.The yellowish chest and white belly are striking. slightly curved. In flight
It perches with wings and tail drooped. the long wings and tail and
OCCURRENCE Breeds in Spain, Portugal, and the slender, raised head give
S France; rare in Italy; vagrant farther north. a typically cuckoo appearance:
VOICE Loud, rattling or cackling trill it usually swoops upwards to a
often given from cover. white perch.Yellow-billed Cuckoos
below rarely survive more than a day
white-spotted, grey
ADULT or so when they reach Europe.
upperparts
OCCURRENCE Very rare
vagrant to NW Europe in
late autumn, from North
America.
VOICE Vagrants are silent. white spots
on tail when
spread
Length 35–39cm (14–15 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 55–65cm (22–26in) Length 29–32cm (11 1 ⁄2 –12 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 48–52cm (19–20 1 ⁄2in)

Family Psittacidae Species Psittacula krameri Family Strigidae Species Strix nebulosa
Ring-necked Parakeet Great Grey Owl
This introduced bird to Europe and the Middle East Sitting upright in a tree this owl looks enormous; in
thrives in very localized areas.The typical long-tailed flight it is very impressive. It is very large-headed with
parakeet form, with a short bill and bright green a grey facial disc and white
broad
plumage, as well as the loud calls, are distinctive marks between the eyes. white crescents grey
between small
(but other species escape at times and red nape The outer wings have yellow eyes facial
could be confused). Males have a buff patches and dark disc
black chin and dark neck-ring bars.Young birds look
(red on the nape);females dark grey; watching
have a plain green head. them may attract
OCCURRENCE Various dangerous attacks
populations from SE black from angry parents.
chin of
England to Istanbul male OCCURRENCE
and Cairo, mostly in Breeds in boggy
towns and suburbs. northern forests,
VOICE Loud, in NE Sweden
squealing, and Finland; rare
squawking calls. vagrant elsewhere.
VOICE Deep,
growling notes;
MALE
song is series of
slow, booming hoots.
long tail massive
ADULT body
Length 39–43cm (15 1 ⁄2 –17in) Wingspan 42–48cm (16 1 ⁄2 –19in) Length 59–68cm (23–27in) Wingspan 1.28–1.48m (4 1 ⁄4 –4 3 ⁄4ft)
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