Swiss cuckoo

Domestic birds definitive stamps

The cuckoo is the first stamp in the new Domestic Birds definitive set, which will replace the existing Swiss Design Classics over the next few years. Each bird is lovingly hand drawn right down to the tiniest detail and artistically placed in its habitat. The Swiss cuckoo took off on 1 April 2006.

Swiss Ornithological Institute

The definitive stamp set dedicated to Domestic birds spotlights species which are not particularly rare or at risk, but a selection of birds which are typical of Switzerland and for which our country takes responsibility.
The Swiss Ornithological Institute based in Sempach and the Swiss Association for the Protection of Birds SVS and Bird Life Switzerland have compiled a list of the species of especial importance for nature conservation - the so-called Species Responsibility List. The main criteria were the endangerment of a species and the percentage of European stocks it represents.

Cuckoo

The cuckoo feeds on insects and spiders en lives in a variety of habitats in mountain areas, woods, farmed areas and wetlands. As a long-distance migrant, the cuckoo spends the winter in southern Africa. The cuckoo is the only brood parasite found in Switzerland. The female lays a single egg in the nest of each host species. In this way, it places between 10 and 25 eggs, leaving the entire hatching process and the rearing of the young to the foster parents.

Stamp in detail

Issue: Switzerland, 7 March 2006
Print: rotogravure by Joh. Enschedé The Netherlands
Stamp size: 33 x 38 mm (incl. label)
Perforation: serpentine cut
Paper: self-adhesive
Design: Eva Ch. Weber, Basel

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