The Call of the Cuckoo

Maybe it was in an antique store, or perhaps your grandparent's living room, or even your neighbor's kitchen. There is that one place, or first time, we remember seeing it hanging on the wall. We stared at it, listening to the "tick- tock- tick-tock", watching the pendulum as it swayed back and forth. Then when the 'big hand' reached the top of the hour, there was a slight sound of, "click" as the doors flew open, and the cuckoo emerged, singing his all too familiar song. Today, whether it's a one day cuckoo clock, an eight day cuckoo, standard or musical, the one constant is the distinct call of the 'bird in the clock'.

The Cuckoo, which is generally a highly secretive bird, is related to the Roadrunner. While there are several species of the Cuckoo throughout the world, the distinctive sound most of us associate with is the European Cuckoo, or Common Cuckoo. The females call is somewhat of a rich warbled chuckle, whereas the male has a hollow-sounding, mournful call that sounds like: coo coo, coo coo. The cuckoo family gets it's English and scientific names from this particular call, and it is generally associated with Cuckoo Clocks.

The elusive English Cuckoo has also been nicknamed the 'weather prophet', because he'll fly south in the winter, in search of a warmer climate, then return very early in the season. People there say that he heralds the coming of Spring, because his soft plaintive coo coo, coo coo call is heard before the other birds arrive for their nesting season.

Most of us associate the familiar cuckoo clock call when we hear the bird's name, however, based on their origin the cuckoo is actually known for a very wide variety of calls. The calls are usually fairly simple, resembling whistles, flutes, or sometimes even hiccups. They use their calls to be let known their ownership of a territory, and to attract a mate. Within individual species, their calls are remarkably consistent within that particular range of species, even in species with very large ranges. This suggests that along with the fact that many species are fostered by another bird, the calls of cuckoos are present from birth, and not learned from their foster parents. While cuckoos are active during the day, many species call at night. As with the European Cuckoo, the names of other species are also derived from their calls. In most cuckoos, the calls are distinctive to their particular species, and aid in identifying them.

William Wadsworth captured these aspects of this reclusive bird, when he paid homage to them in this verse from his poem, 'To a Cuckoo':

"Thrice welcome, darling of the Spring!

Even yet thou art to me

No bird, but an invisible thing

A voice, a mystery"

Now, whenever I look at a cuckoo clock, I take the time to look at the hand carvings of each clock, appreciating the craftsmanship passed down through generations of clockmaker from the Black Forest; Studying the contours of the clock face, each face individually hand carved, distinct in its own way. Then through my mesmerized state creeps the sound of, "tic- toc- tic-toc", as the pendulum sways back and forth. When at the top of the hour, I hear the familiar sound of, "click", the doors open, and like all those who relish childhood delights and exquisite craftsmanship, the spell of the cuckoos' song once again brings a smile to my face.

Bring a smile to your face while viewing a wide variety of beautifully handcrafted Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks at tictoccuckooclock.com - View the original article at The Call of the Cuckoo