What does the Common Cuckoo eat?

The Common Cuckoo's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Insectivore, primarily feeding on large, hairy caterpillars that are often avoided by other birds.

How it forages

Primarily insectivorous, specializing in large, hairy caterpillars (e.g., Lasiocampidae, Arctiidae) that are toxic or unpalatable to many other birds. They also consume other insects like beetles, grasshoppers, and larvae. They forage by perching and scanning, then swooping down to catch prey.

When it feeds

Diurnal.

Explore the Common Cuckoo