Cuckoo: Cheating by Nature

Excellent book, based on the research of the writer.

Superb read for every birder

This is an amazing book..i ever read.

I agree completely with every review written about this book which is informative, entertaining and wonderfully well researched without ever being pedantic. Each page is a delight, and beautifully written. It answered every question I have ever wanted to ask about cuckoos - and there have been many. Nick Davies's frequent tributes to earlier naturalists who have studied the cuckoo add to the comprehensive nature of this marvellous study, as do his reflections on other wildlife that co-exist with this bird and its habitat. The book itself is well printed and presented, with excellent commissioned drawings and helpful photographs. I have no criticisms, and what follows is not one, but I would have liked a paragraph, perhaps, on how to approach the task of cuckoo-spotting (he covers this with reed warblers and their nests). As some-one who hears cuckoos calling all around in summer, but who has only ever seen one perched on a fence 20 years ago, some tips about how to start the process off would have been very welcome. I know - and Mr. Davies stresses this - that the best way of learning about any species of bird is just to watch it in situ over a long period. I did this myself with Golden Orioles and anything I know about these birds at all has been gleaned not from books but from simply watching them. But I had to learn, through trial and error, how to do it as they too are very secretive. However over time I got the hang of it. Perhaps when Mr. Davies revises his book he will tell us something about how he first learnt to spy on cuckoos - after 30 years on Wicken Fen he can practically call them to hand!

Only about 1% of the world's bird species are parasitic and the common cuckoo is the only one found in the UK. It's life story is well known but Professor Davies sets out to answer the many questions this raises. How do cuckoos choose their hosts, how do they lay their eggs in hosts' nests, what defences do the hosts raise to prevent being parasitised, how sophisticated are the respective parties and how have their strategies evolved. He answers these and many other related questions in various ways. Principally by many hours spent in the field in Wicken Fen. The cuckoos and their reed warbler hosts almost become personal friends as Professor Davies describes his observations and tests out his hypotheses at various nests. Research is also carried out in the laboratory and the extensive literature, current and historical on cuckoo and other parasitic species is mined. This is a an ecological study which reveals evolution in action. It is however no dry academic tome. It is good science which never talks down to the reader but nonetheless is written in an elegant, readable style. The cuckoo is in decline and one finishes the book anxious for the conservation of this fascinating creature, its habitat and way of life. This is a wonderful book, whether you are an bird watcher, scientist, or just anyone. Read it.

The life of a cuckoo is shrouded in mystery. This author, a Cambridge Fellow, has spent years studying cuckoos and reveals how this fascinating bird goes about its life of deception. An excellent writer conveying the facts and habits of the cuckoo in a highly readable way.

Having watched Cuckoos arrive every Spring to the small parish in North Norfolk where I live, I felt I needed to know more. Nick Davies' book has helped immensely by filling the embarrassingly wide gaps in my knowledge of Cuckoos and their habits. As a scientist he has the distinct advantage of being a very good communicator. This book covers the many areas which have intrigued me about Cuckoos and does so based upon years of careful experimentation, observation and deduction by Nick Davies - the areas covered in this admirable book include the history of Cuckoo observation and early wildlife filming; the variety of host species and the cunning adaptive habits of the parasitic Cuckoo; the tactical battles with host species - the subtleties of deception and their counter-measures, and much else besides. It is an object lesson in how to translate the hard yards of scientific observation into an accessible form. Above all it is reassuring to understand how conservation can benefit from scientific effort. Now all I have to do is to try and avoid becoming a Cuckoo bore - so much fascinating knowledge is imparted within this book - but at least I feel that I can listen out for and watch the Cuckoos in the Bure Valley a more enlightened manner.

I heard the author being interviewed and was immediately fascinated by his knowledge on Cuckoos. I ordered the book secondhand it came quite quickly and was in very good condition. I haven’t put it down since!!