Family: Cuculidae
Description
This family contains the Cuckoos, Anis, Roadrunners, Coucals, Koels, Couas and Malkohas. They are found worldwide.
These are small to medium-sized landbirds, often with a fairly narrow bill and a long tail. Most are dark above and paler below, some are all-dark.
Most species are found in forests and woodland. They feed on insects and fruit.
Many species are brood parasites. They lay their eggs in the nest of a host species. However, most species raise their own young.
One of the more distinctive morphological features of the cuckoos is the zygodactyl foot, with the inner and outer toes directed backwards and the other two toes directed forwards. The plumage is soft and lax in most species, the legs are short, and the tail is rather long, often longer than the rest of the bird.
Taxonomy
Cuculidae is a family in the order Cuculiformes.
Coucals are sometimes placed in their separate family Centropodidae and Anis in Crotophagidae.
References
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1997. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334221
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Cuculidae. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Cuculidae
Subcategories
This category has the following 44 subcategories, out of 44 total.
