Cuckoo, The (silent, 1930s)

“The Cuckoo” is a silent nature film from the 1930s that examines the unusual and somewhat ruthless reproductive behavior of the cuckoo bird. The film documents how cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, tricking the unsuspecting hosts into raising their young. The cuckoo chicks then proceed to push the host’s eggs or chicks out of the nest, even while still blind and featherless. While some of the key footage is slightly unclear, the film’s charm lies in its historical significance and the dedication of the filmmaker, including a memorable moment where they hide inside a giant fake bush to observe the birds. The film offers a fascinating, if slightly dark, look at nature’s competitive survival tactics.

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