British Birds - Crows and Cuckoos

This bird is famous for its acorn feeding habits but do you know what it is? See question 6 for the answer

British Birds - Crows and Cuckoos

The all-black carrion crow is one of the cleverest, most adaptable of our birds. The closely related hooded crow has recently been split as a separate species. With cuckoos, it is the male's call that is the very familiar "cuckoo". Generally, if you hear a cuckoo singing you will probably not see it until it stops singing, which is when it flies away from its song post.

Which of these options do you prefer?

  1. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Malte Uhl
    • Group: Crows and allies
    • Binomial: Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
    • Order: Passeriformes
    • Family: Corvidae
    • Status: Resident Breeding Species
    • Pairs for life and displays fidelity to its breeding site, which is usually a cave or crevice in a cliff face.
    • Has been depicted on postage stamps of a few countries, including the Isle of Man.

  2. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Teemu Lehtinen
    • Group: Crows and allies
    • Binomial: Pica pica
    • Order: Passeriformes
    • Family: Corvidae
    • Status: Resident Breeding Species
    • In the spring, large numbers often gather to resolve territorial conflicts and social standing.
    • These gatherings, called parliaments, probably gave rise to the many nursery rhymes and poems about this bird.

  3. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Mdf
    • Group: Cuckoo
    • Binomial: Coccyzus americanus
    • Order: Cuculiformes
    • Family: Cuculidae
    • Status: Rare Vagrant
    • The entire time from egg-laying to fledging may be as little as 17 days.
    • Chicks are able to climb about with agility at 7-9 days of age.
    • Occasionally lay eggs in the nests of other birds.

  4. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Panafotkas
    • Group: Crows and allies
    • Binomial: Corvus cornix
    • Order: Passeriformes
    • Family: Corvidae
    • Status: Resident Breeding Species
    • On coastal cliffs the eggs of gulls, cormorants and other birds are stolen when their owners are absent.
    • In the 18th century, Scottish shepherds would make offerings to them to keep them from attacking sheep.

  5. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Brian Snelson
    • Group: Crows and allies
    • Binomial: Corvus frugilegus
    • Order: Passeriformes
    • Family: Corvidae
    • Status: Resident Breeding Species
    • Untidy appearance arising from the slightly peaked head and the thigh feathers, which look like baggy trousers.
    • Rarely alone and so their raucous caws can become overwhelming.

  6. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of http://www.lucnix.be/main.php
    • Group: Crows and allies
    • Binomial: Garrulus glandarius
    • Order: Passeriformes
    • Family: Corvidae
    • Status: Resident Breeding Species
    • Shy woodland birds, rarely moving far from cover.
    • Famous for their acorn feeding habits and in the autumn you may see them burying acorns for retrieving later in the winter.

  7. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Benutzer:BS Thurner Hof
    • Group: Crows and allies
    • Binomial: Corvus corone
    • Order: Passeriformes
    • Family: Corvidae
    • Status: Resident Breeding Species
    • Often quite fearless, although can be wary of man.
    • Fairly solitary, usually found alone or in pairs.
    • Highly intelligent, and are among the most intelligent of all animals.

  8. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Unknown
    • Group: Crows and allies
    • Binomial: Corvus monedula
    • Order: Passeriformes
    • Family: Corvidae
    • Status: Resident Breeding Species
    • Perched birds often chatter together, and before settling for the night large roosting flocks make a cackling noise.
    • Generally cautious of people in the forest or countryside, but much tamer in urban areas.

  9. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of David Hofmann
    • Group: Crows and allies
    • Binomial: Corvus corax
    • Order: Passeriformes
    • Family: Corvidae
    • Status: Resident Breeding Species
    • Has coexisted with humans for thousands of years and in some areas has been so numerous that it is considered a pest.
    • Has been the subject of mythology, folklore, art and literature.

  10. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Steve Garvie
    • Group: Cuckoo
    • Binomial: Cuculus canorus
    • Order: Cuculiformes
    • Family: Cuculidae
    • Status: Breeding Summer Visitor
    • Lays its eggs in the nests of other bird species.
    • The female pushes one egg out of the other bird's nest, lays and flies off.
    • The whole process is achieved in only about 10 seconds.
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