The cuckoo's complex welfare story spans its African wintering grounds, multiple migration routes, and its parasitic breeding strategy in Britain, with population decline driven by threats across this vast range.
Cuckoo welfare operates across three distinct phases: breeding (in UK), migration (twice yearly), and wintering (in Congo basin). The parasitic breeding strategy means adult cuckoo welfare is not directly linked to chick care, but population success depends on host species availability. Migration welfare is determined by conditions along each individual's route - food availability, weather, and predator exposure during Saharan crossings. The BTO satellite tracking programme has provided unprecedented insight into individual mortality patterns, showing that some migration routes carry significantly higher welfare-relevant mortality risk than others. Climate change is altering conditions along all migration routes, with unknown long-term welfare implications for a species already at population-level risk.