GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO

Clamator glandarius

English: Great Spotted Cuckoo.
German: Häherkuckuck.
French: Coucou geai.

Clasificación/Clasification

Order: Cuculiformes.
Family: Cuculidae.

Longitud/Length

35-39 cm.

Envergadura/Wingspan

54-60 cm.

Aves relacionadas/Similar species

There is no possible confusion with any other species in the Iberian Peninsula.

Sexo/Sexing

Both sexes have a very similar plumage. Size can be a useful variable in extreme cases: the male has a wing length greater than 212mm and a tail length greater than 212mm. On the other hand, the female has a wing length less than 200mm and a tail length less than 198mm.

Edad/Ageing

It is possible to recognize 3 different ages:

Juvenile specimen: It has a black crown. The back is also black but speckled with white. The throat and chest are intensely yellow. The most remarkable features are the primaries, which have an intense chestnut-red color, and the secondaries with a small white spot at the tip.

2nd year specimen: The primaries may have a tinge of ochre if the bird has completed a full molt, although there are individuals that may have very little ochre on the inner vanes of the primaries. In the case of a partial molt, there will be a contrast between the retained juvenile secondaries, which will be shorter and have a thinner white spot at the tip compared to the adult-type feathers that have been changed.

Adult specimen: It has a gray crown. The back is gray with white speckles. The throat and chest are a light yellow. The primaries are completely gray, and the secondaries have a large white spot at the tip. In the case of some retained secondaries, there will be two generations of feathers, but all with the same-sized white tips.

Muda/Moult

The Great Spotted Cuckoo undergoes complete postnuptial and post-juvenile molts, which start in the wintering areas. Both age types can suspend their molt and have two generations of flight feathers in the spring.

Configuración del plumaje/Plumage configuration

Primaries: 10 per wing.
Secundaries: 10 per wing.
Rectrices: 10.

Observaciones/Remarks

Link: http://blascozumeta.com/

Ilustraciones: Sylvática Ilustración.

La obtención de este material ha sido posible gracias al permiso necesario de la Junta de Andalucía.

AUTORIZACIÓN DE LA DIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE MEDIO NATURAL, BIODIVERSIDAD Y ESPACIOS PROTEGIDOS DE LA CONSEJERÍA DE AGRICULTURA, GANADERÍA, PESCA Y DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE DE LA JUNTA DE ANDALUCÍA, PARA LA CESIÓN DE MUESTRAS BIOLÓGICAS DE ESPECIES DE FAUNA (ARTÍCULO 9 DE LA LEY 8/2003, DE 28 DE OCTUBRE, DE LA FLORA Y LA FAUNA SILVESTRES).

Medidas/Measures

Biometría/Biometrics

Adult specimen:
Beak tip to pupil center:
Tarsus:

Eye ring. Age

2nd year specimen

1.- Right wing primaries. 2.- Details of the inner vane of P10, P9, P8, and P7. 3.- Details of the inner vane of P6, P5, and P4. 4.- Details of the inner vane of P6 and P5. 5.- Right wing primaries. 6.- Details of the outer vane of the primaries. 7.- Details of the tip of the primaries. 8.- Details of the outer vane of the outer primaries. 9.- Details of the shaft of the primaries. 10.- Right wing secondaries and tertials. 11.- Details of the inner vane of S2, S3, and S4. 12.- Details of the inner vane of S7, S8, and S9. 13.- Details of the tip of the tertials. 14.- Right wing secondaries and tertials. 15.- Details of the outer vane of the secondaries. 16.- Details of the tip of the secondaries. 17.- Details of the tip of the tertials. 18.- Details of the shaft of the secondaries. 19.- Details of the tertials. 20.- Right wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. 21.- Right wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. 22.- Primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Primary coverts + greater coverts + median coverts. 23.- Details of the primary coverts. 24.- Details of the primary coverts. 25.- Details of the greater coverts. 26.- Details of the greater coverts. 27.- Details of the greater and median coverts. 28.- Primaries, secondaries, tertials. Primary coverts and secondary coverts (greater, median, and lesser). Alulas. 29.- Details of the lesser coverts. 30.- Details of the secondary coverts. 31.- Primary coverts. 32.- Greater coverts. 33.- Alulas. 34.- Mounting of the crown, lateral view. 35.- Mounting of the crown, lateral view. 36.- Mounting of the crown, front view. 37.- Details of the crown. 38.- Crown feathers. 39.- Rectrices. 40.- Details of the rectrices. 41.- Details of the tip of the rectrices (R5). 42.- Details of the tip of the rectrices (R3). 43.- Rectrices. 44.- Details of the tip of the central rectrices. 45.- Rectrices + uppertail coverts. 46.- Details of the uppertail coverts. 47.- Details of the uppertail coverts. 48.- Uppertail coverts. 49.- Rectrices + undertail coverts. 50.- Details of the undertail coverts. 51.- Undertail coverts. 52.- Mounting of the right scapula. 53.- Feathers of the right scapula. 54.- Top: greater primary infracoverts. Bottom: median primary infracoverts. 55.- Top: greater secondary infracoverts. Middle: median secondary infracoverts. Bottom: lesser secondary infracoverts. 56.- Right axillary feathers. 57.- Chest feathers. 58.- Right flank feathers. 59.- Back feathers. 60.- Right leg feathers.

GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO

Medidas/Measures

Eye ring. Age

2nd year specimen

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