One species of bird which fascinates naturalists because of its antisocial behavior is the common cuckoo. Indigenous to Europe and Asia, it gets its name from the call of the male, and is a winter migrant to Africa. It is a grayish bird with a slender body that looks like a small bird of prey in the flight. It feeds on insects, particularly caterpillars, and can typically be seen in open land near reed beds or trees.

It is well known for its habit of laying its eggs in other bird’s nests, particularly those of Dunnocks and Reed Warblers. When the female cuckoo sees an unattended nest of eggs belonging to another species, she removes an egg and lays hers in its place. The host mother then incubates the cuckoo egg along with her own, seemingly unaware of what has happened. The cuckoo egg generally hatches first and the greedy young chick then throws out all the other eggs, or evicts the other young birds, so that it can monopolise the food that is provided by the parent bird and thrive in the nest all on its own. The host bird raises the cuckoo chick as if it were its own offspring, despite the fact that it may be three times the size.

Image via Wikipedia

The behavior and anatomical adaptation of the cuckoo was first described by Edward Jenner, best known for his pioneering work in developing the first vaccine. Jenner was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1788 for his study of cuckoos.