What's a Cuckoo?

After reading the beginning chapters of Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, I decided to research the unfamiliar bird of the title.  Not that I really do know that much about birds, but I'd have to say that the cuckoo is a bird I know nothing about.  After some research, I learned that cuckoos are medium-sized birds with soft feathers. They live on every continent except Antarctica and are said to be extremely secretive.   Also, they are known for their numerous unique calls, which they use to attract a mate and define their territory.  An interesting aspect of the cuckoo bird is that they are brood parasites, or birds that lay their eggs in other bird's nests.  The female bird chooses a nest of a familiar species, often similar to the birds who raised her.  Also, their eggs resemble the eggs of the nest they use, as to throw off predators.  After much research, I wonder if any of what I learned will be significant in the rest of Kesey's novel.