Help us track Cuckoos and watch the current cohort's epic migration on our Cuckoo migration map. Read the latest updates on how our cuckoos are managing their amazing migration from Britain and Ireland to Africa and back again.
Time, skill and support
Spend as much time as you like following each Cuckoo's migration and reading the updates about their movements.
No technical skills are required to support the Cuckoo Tracking project - just a love of Cuckoos.
Learn more on our Cuckoo BirdFacts page and how to identify them and their call in our Cuckoo ID video.
About the project
We’ve been satellite-tracking Cuckoos since 2011. We’ve learned lots of vital information, such as how the different migration routes are linked to declines, and some of the pressures Cuckoos face whilst on migration, but there is still much more to discover.
- We have been able to share our expertise around tracking Cuckoos with other international studies, such as the Beijing Cuckoo Project.
- Read more about our Cuckoo Tracking Project.
- Explore the Cuckoo BirdFacts page to learn more about this iconic species.
An important aspect of this project is how it helps us improve our understanding of why Cuckoos are in decline:
- Since 1995, the number of Cuckoos has decreased by over 30%.
- The Cuckoo is currently Red-listed as a Bird of Conservation Concern in the UK.
What’s next
We now need to look more closely at how dependent Cuckoos are on, and how much their migration is linked to, the drought-busting rains of the weather frontal system known as the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) as they move out of the Congo rainforest and begin to head back to the UK via West Africa.
Learn more
- What have the Cuckoos taught us? (2022)
- Cuckoo's clocks can't adjust to climate change - now we know why (2023)
- Our Cuckoo tracking journey (2024)
- Learn more about Cuckoos (facts, figures, trends)
- Learn how to identify them and their call in our Cuckoo ID video
- More about bird tracking technology (GPS, PTTs, Geolocators)
Support the project
- Help us continue our vital research by sponsoring a Cuckoo.
Cuckoo migration map
Each Cuckoo’s tag sends us location data approximately every day, so we can follow them and learn more about their migration.
Cuckoo movements from 1st May 2025 to 25th January 2026
Latest updates
Norman heads north
Norman is the first of our tagged Cuckoos to make any significant movements in recent weeks. In the last few days he has covered around 1,200 km (745 miles), flying north from Angola, passing through Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon and on into southern Cameroon.
He is currently on the western flanks of the Dja Faunal Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered one of Africa's most species-rich rainforests.
Arthur makes a move
Arthur has moved c320 km (200 miles) from eastern Gabon into northern Equatorial Guinea, just 8 km (5 miles) from the border with Cameroon. He is close to the Monte Temelon Natural Reserve, south of the small city of Micomeseng. The reserve is known for its primate populations, including Chimpanzees, Mandrills and a range of monkey species.
Sayaan sets off
Sayaan has moved from north-west Democratic Republic of the Congo into eastern Republic of the Congo, moving some 445 km (276 miles). The latest signal shows that he is in Lac Télé Community Reserve, which lies between the Sangha and Oubangui rivers. This vast reserve is home to one of the largest known densities of Western Gorillas in the world, and is considered to be the world’s largest swamp forest, largest Ramsar site, and second largest wetland.
Current Cuckoos
Each year, we follow a cohort of newly tagged Cuckoos as they migrate along the Afro-Palearctic flyway. We also watch Cuckoos tagged in previous years, if their tag is still transmitting data to us. Together, these are our 'Current Cuckoos'.
