Cuckoos have a grey head with a thin, bright yellow ring around their eye, yellow feet and a black beak. They have dark grey plumage on their upper parts and barred plumage below which resembles the markings of the sparrowhawk. Some females are a rusty-brown colour.

What does a cuckoo look like UK?

The cuckoo is a dove-sized bird with blue grey upper parts, head and chest with dark barred white under parts. With their sleek body, long tail and pointed wings they are not unlike kestrels or sparrowhawks. Sexes are similar and the young are brown.

Are cuckoos rare in UK?

Three species of cuckoos regularly visit Europe. There is only one in the UK, but there are many other species worldwide. They are parasitic, laying their eggs in the nests of other species, which rear the young cuckoos in place of their own offspring. ...