Going cuckoo! A “cuckoo” sort of January for ICS

The term "cuckoo" often evokes the notion of madness. It also conjures the image of the German-inspired clock with the resounding sound “cu-coo” that signals the hour. In literature, the term "cuckold" refers to a husband who has been betrayed by his wife. In contrast, William Shakespeare uses the cuckoo as a symbol of the approaching spring and fertility. Additionally, in Greek mythology, the cuckoo bird is considered sacred. Overall, all of these references highlight one of the most beautiful and intelligent birds in the world – the cuckoo.
As part of their daily monitoring of the different islands, the Island Conservation Society (ICS) staff observes different bird species and January was a particular “cuckoo” month. These birds have a wide range of habitats from forests, and deserts to wetlands. Following the end of the mating season, solitary cuckoos, like so many other migratory and vagrant birds, travel to the warmer African region for a few months to forage. Unfortunately, when they are not breeding the male cuckoos, which have very distinctive songs, rarely sing. This leaves detecting them merely up to chance or good observation skills.
The species comes from a big family which also includes the roadrunner. Their appearance and size range from 16 cm to 90 cm and from grey to brown with patches of white or even emerald green. This makes it even more fascinating to spot any of the cuckoos, which are often shy of people and like to hide in dense forests – their preferred habitat. Their downward-curving beaks are ideal for feeding on various food sources, varying from fruits to small insects, including hairy caterpillars, which most birds would avoid. Cuckoos also share the same odd toe formation as the parrots - with two toes facing forward and two backwards.
Interestingly, cuckoos are also known for their lack of parental skills. A female cuckoo lays its eggs in the nest of another bird, often discarding the owner’s egg in the process. This behaviour, known as brood parasitism, is quite extreme; the female mimics the colour of the eggs in the nest and the chick produces the begging calls of the host bird. As a result, the unsuspecting host cares for the cuckoo chick, which then typically eliminates any other chicks that are not its siblings. This fascinating yet ruthless strategy highlights the cuckoo's unique survival adaptations.
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, most cuckoo species are of Least Concern. Despite this, Cuckoos are globally threatened, with big declines in breeding populations and ranges. For example, since 2021 the Common Cuckoo species has been added to the Red List in the UK Conservation Status Report to prioritise its conservation status due to a decline in its population.
Although many vagrant or migratory birds are spotted by ICS on the Outer Islands, according to the Seychelles Birds Record Committee (SBRC) all of the three cuckoos below have been spotted in the Inner Islands including on Praslin, La Digue, Bird and Denis Island in the past. There is also another species that has been seen in Seychelles, the Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) which sports a remarkable patterned back.  However, this has only been seen twice, on Bird and Aldabra.

The following are three species of cuckoos spotted by ICS last month – including a ‘cuckoo’ day where all three species were spotted in one day on Desroches.

Asian Lesser Cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus)
As its name implies, this is a small species which is about the size of the Seychelles Bulbul and is abundant in many Asian countries where it is revered and has been immortalized through many myths and legends. For example, in Japan, it symbolizes unrequited love. At first glance, it looks very much like a Common Cuckoo, which is a more common visitor to Seychelles. However, it has a shorter bill and a more ‘cute’ appearance. The bars on their breast are also thicker than those of the Common Cuckoo. When the conservation team on Desroches saw the bird, these features are what immediately stood out to them. Lesser Cuckoos are primarily insectivores and play an important role in controlling insects such as caterpillars. However, depending on availability, they are also known to feed on fruits and seeds.

Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) 
The Common cuckoo is the only member of the Cuculidae to have the ‘cu-koo, cu-koo’ calls. It is found throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. Featuring a sleek greyish body and a long tail, it is a very secretive bird, not liking to be in the open for too long. As this species can also be found in Europe, the team on Desroches were very familiar with this species. They were excited to see it as a reminder of home, and there have been at least four individuals who have visited Desroches over the last two months. This is also the most common cuckoo to be spotted throughout Seychelles, with over 80 accepted records.  

Jacobin Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus)
This is a distinct cuckoo as it sports a crest, which it often displays when nervous. It has a black back and a white patch on its wings which makes it unmistakable. During the breeding season they have a strong and noisy note resounds like ‘pi-piu’. In India, its arrival is celebrated as an indicator of the rainy season and it is commonly referred to in poetry. The genus name for this species, Clamator, comes from the Latin for shouting. In January, a Jacobin Cuckoo was spotted on Alphonse, Ile Plate and Desroches. Surprisingly, on Desroches, the bird stayed for the whole month and the team can confirm that it lives up to its name!