Cuckoo’s Call Falls Silent as Summer Visitor Departs Irish Shores
Ireland’s iconic summer visitor, the cuckoo, has all but departed for another year. Just three sightings of the migratory bird have been logged so far this month on IrishBirding.com, marking the final flurry of activity before the species heads south for the winter.
The latest reports came from Rathlin Island in Antrim, Slieve Gullion Forest Park in Armagh, and Murlough National Nature Reserve in County Down, suggesting the last stragglers are now well on their way to sub-Saharan Africa.
This year, a total of 204 cuckoo sightings were recorded across the country, beginning with the first report on 24 March at Helvick Head in west Waterford. That’s a modest increase on 2024, which saw 188 reports in total.
The cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is best known for its distinctive two-note call and secretive lifestyle. Its arrival in spring is traditionally seen as a sign of the changing seasons. However, in recent decades, the species has been in decline across Ireland and Britain, largely due to habitat loss and changes in insect populations linked to climate change.
Each year, cuckoos arrive from central Africa to breed, with males calling to attract mates and defend territories, while females lay their eggs in the nests of other birds such as meadow pipits or reed warblers. By mid to late July, most adults begin their return migration south, with juveniles following a few weeks later.
