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Cuckoos

Cuckoos and their relatives often have elongated bodies and long tails, but the family also includes heavy-billed anis, shaggy Guira Cuckoos and terrestrial roadrunners. Grey, brown, rufous and black plumages occur, frequently with barring, streaking or contrasting tail tips. Examples include Guira Cuckoo (Guira guira), Greater Ani (Crotophaga major), and Striped Cuckoo (Tapera naevia). Most take insects and other animal food; breeding strategies vary, and many species build nests rather than parasitizing other birds. Bill curvature, tail length and the angle of the resting body vary across cuckoos, coucals and their relatives.

How to recognize Cuckoos

  • Compare tail length, tail-tip pattern and any barred underparts.
  • Check the bill's depth and curvature instead of colour alone.
  • Record voice and whether the bird is arboreal or ground-oriented.

Where they live

The family occurs in much of the world, especially tropical and temperate regions with suitable vegetation. Forest, woodland, scrub, grassland and arid landscapes support different cuckoo lineages. Some stay high in trees, others move through dense low cover or hunt on the ground, so feeding position and vegetation structure greatly narrow the comparison. The settings occupied by cuckoos range from dense forest to open scrub, reflecting the varied feeding and nesting habits within the family.

Species accounts: Guira Cuckoo · Greater Ani · Striped Cuckoo

Sources — natural history: Wikipedia: Cuckoos · Cornell Birds of the World: Guira Cuckoo (Guira guira), species natural history.

Classification: IOC World Bird List: family names and classification.

Some Cornell Birds of the World account sections require a subscription.

Updated 2026-11-06. Species counts follow this site's catalogue. This is an editorial summary, not an expert peer review.

Explore similarities in appearance, feeding and habitat. These comparisons do not necessarily indicate the closest evolutionary relatives.

Species records retain their original English, Chinese and scientific names.

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Guira CuckooGuira CuckooGuira guiraGreater AniGreater AniCrotophaga majorSmooth-billed AniSmooth-billed AniCrotophaga aniGroove-billed AniGroove-billed AniCrotophaga sulcirostrisStriped CuckooStriped CuckooTapera naeviaPheasant CuckooPheasant CuckooDromococcyx phasianellusPavonine CuckooPavonine CuckooDromococcyx pavoninusLesser Ground CuckooLesser Ground CuckooMorococcyx erythropygusGreater RoadrunnerGreater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusLesser RoadrunnerLesser RoadrunnerGeococcyx veloxRufous-vented Ground CuckooRufous-vented Ground CuckooNeomorphus geoffroyiScaled Ground CuckooScaled Ground CuckooNeomorphus squamigerBanded Ground CuckooBanded Ground CuckooNeomorphus radiolosusRufous-winged Ground CuckooRufous-winged Ground CuckooNeomorphus rufipennisRed-billed Ground CuckooRed-billed Ground CuckooNeomorphus pucheraniiBuff-headed CoucalBuff-headed CoucalCentropus miloWhite-necked CoucalWhite-necked CoucalCentropus ateralbusIvory-billed CoucalIvory-billed CoucalCentropus menbekiBiak CoucalBiak CoucalCentropus chalybeusRufous CoucalRufous CoucalCentropus unirufusGreen-billed CoucalGreen-billed CoucalCentropus chlororhynchosBlack-faced CoucalBlack-faced CoucalCentropus melanopsBlack-hooded CoucalBlack-hooded CoucalCentropus steeriiShort-toed CoucalShort-toed CoucalCentropus rectunguisBay CoucalBay CoucalCentropus celebensisGabon CoucalGabon CoucalCentropus anselliBlack-throated CoucalBlack-throated CoucalCentropus leucogasterSenegal CoucalSenegal CoucalCentropus senegalensisBlue-headed CoucalBlue-headed CoucalCentropus monachusCoppery-tailed CoucalCoppery-tailed CoucalCentropus cupreicaudusWhite-browed CoucalWhite-browed CoucalCentropus superciliosusBurchell's CoucalBurchell's CoucalCentropus burchelliiSunda CoucalSunda CoucalCentropus nigrorufusGreater CoucalGreater CoucalCentropus sinensisMalagasy CoucalMalagasy CoucalCentropus toulouGoliath CoucalGoliath CoucalCentropus goliathBlack CoucalBlack CoucalCentropus grilliiPhilippine CoucalPhilippine CoucalCentropus viridisLesser CoucalLesser CoucalCentropus bengalensisViolaceous CoucalViolaceous CoucalCentropus violaceusBlack-billed CoucalBlack-billed CoucalCentropus bernsteiniKai CoucalKai CoucalCentropus spilopterusPheasant CoucalPheasant CoucalCentropus phasianinusAndaman CoucalAndaman CoucalCentropus andamanensisBornean Ground CuckooBornean Ground CuckooCarpococcyx radiceusSumatran Ground CuckooSumatran Ground CuckooCarpococcyx viridisCoral-billed Ground CuckooCoral-billed Ground CuckooCarpococcyx renauldiCrested CouaCrested CouaCoua cristata