Cuculiformes

(vertebrate zoology) An order of birds containing the cuckoos and allies, characterized by the zygodactyl arrangement of the toes.

Cuckoos, anis, and roadrunners

(Cuculidae)

Class: Aves

Order: Cuculiformes

Suborder: Cuculi

Family: Cuculidae

Number of families: 1

Thumbnail description
Small to medium-sized landbirds, with slightly curved and narrow bills, zygodactyl feet and long tails, and usually inconspicuous colors, generally light gray or light brown to black

Size
6.3–27.6 in (16–70 cm); 0.03–1.11 lb (17–550 g)

Number of genera, species
38 genera; 129 species

Habitat
Mainly forest and woodland, although some species live in open countries and semi-arid regions

Conservation status
Critically Endangered: 2 species; Endangered: 1 species; Vulnerable: 6 species; Near Threatened: 9 species; Extinct (since 1600): 1

Distribution
Present on all continents except Antarctica

Resources

Alcorn, J. R. The Birds of Nevada. Fallon, NV: Fairview West Publ., 1988.

Ali, S. A., and S. D. Ripley, The Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Vol. 3. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1969.

Baker, E. C. S. Cuckoo Problems. London: Witherby, 1942.

Chance, E. P. The Cuckoo's Secret. London: Sedgwick & Jackson, 1922.

Cramp, S., ed. Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North America. The Birds of the Western Paleartic. Vol. 4. Terns to Woodpeckers. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1985. del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, eds. Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 4. Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, 1997.

Erritzoe, J. Working Bibliography of Cuckoos and Turacos of the World. Vojens, Denmark: P. J. Schmidt Grafisk, 2000.

Fry, C. H., S. Keith, and E. K. Urban, eds. The Birds of Africa. Vol. 3. London: Academic Press, 1988.

Jonhsgard, P. A. The Avian Brood Parasites: Deception at the Nest. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.

Lack, D. Ecological Adaptations for Breeding in Birds. London: Methuen, 1968.

Meinzer, W. P. The Roadrunner. Lubbock: Texas Tech. Univ. Press, 1993.

Rothstein, S. L., and S. Robinson. Parasitic Birds and their Hosts. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988.

Sibley, C. G., and J. E. Ahlquist. Phylogeny and Classification of Birds: a Study of Molecular Evolution. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1990.

Wyllie, I. The Cuckoo. London: Batsford, 1981.

Abdulai, H. "The eggs of the Indian Bay banded cuckoo (Penthoceryx sonneratii)." Journal Bombay Natural History Society 44 (1943): 122.

Abdulai, H. "Some notes on the plumage of Centropus sinensis (Stephens)." Journal Bombay Natural History Society 54 (1956): 183–185.

Alvarez del Toro, M. "Polygamy at a groove billed ani nest." Auk 65 (1948): 449–450.

Andersson, M. "Evolution of reversed sex roles, sexual size dimorphism, and mating system in coucals (Centropodinae, Aves)." Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 54 (1995): 173–181.

Andrew, P. "The status of the Sunda coucal Centropus nigrorufus." Kukila 5 (1990): 56–64.

Aragon, S., A. P. Møller, J. J. Soler, and M. Soler. "Molecular phylogeny of cuckoos supports a polyphyletic origin of brood parasitism." Journal of Evolutionary Biology 12 (1999): 495–506.

Baker, E. C. S. "The evolution of adaptation in parasitic cuckoos eggs." Ibis 10 (1913): 384–398.

Balch, L. G. "Identification of groove billed and Smooth billed Anis." Birding 11 (1979): 295–297.

Banks, R. C. "Geographical variation in the yellow billed cuckoo." Condor 90 (1988): 473–477.

Bates, G. L. "On the parasitic habits of the pied crested cuckoo (Clamator jacabinus) (Bodd.)." Journal Bombay Natural History Society 40 (1938): 125.

Braa, A. T., A. Moksnes, and E. Roskaft. "Adaptations of bramblings and chaffinches towards parasitism by common cuckoo." Animal Behaviour 43 (1992): 67–78.

Brooke, M. L. and N. B. Davies. "Egg mimicry by cuckoos Cuculus canorus in relation to discrimination by hosts." Nature 335 (1988): 630–632.

Brooke, M. L., N. B. Davies, and D. G. Noble. "Rapid decline of host defences in response to reduced cuckoo parasitism: behavioural flexibility of reed warblers in a changing world." Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 265 (1998): 1277–1282.

Brooker, L. C., and Brooker, M. G. "Why are cuckoos host specific?" Oikos 57 (1990): 301–309.

Brooker, M. G., and L. C. Brooker. "Eggshell strength in cuckoos and cowbirds." Ibis 133 (1991): 406–413.

Calder, W. A. "Breeding behaviour of the roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus." Auk 84 (1967): 597–598.

Cavalcanti, R. B., M. R. Lemes, and R. Cintra. "Egg losses in communal nests of the Guira Cuckoo. " Journal of Field Ornithology 62 (1991): 177–180.

Davies, N. B., and M. L. Brooke. "Cuckoos versus reed warblers: adaptations and counteradaptations." Animal Behaviour 36 (1988): 262–284.

Davies, N. B., and M. L. Brooke. "An experimental study of co-evolution between the cuckoo Cuculus canorus and its hosts. I. Host egg discrimination." Journal of Animal Ecology 58 (1989): 207–224.

Davies, N. B., and M. L. Brooke. "An experimental study of co-evolution between the cuckoo Cuculus canorus and its hosts. II. Host egg markings, chick discrimination and general discussion." Journal of Animal Ecology 58 (1989): 225–236.

Davies, N. B., R. M. Kilner, and D. G. Noble. "Nestling cuckoos, Cuculus canorus, exploit host with begging calls that mimic a brood." Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 265 (1998): 673–678.

De S. Disney, H. J. "Ageing, sexing and plumage of the Australian koel Eudynamys cyanocephala." Corella 16 (1992): 97–103.

Eaton, S. W. "Notes on the reproductive behaviour of the yellow billed cuckoo." Wilson Bulletin 91 (1979): 154–155.

Frauca, H. "The natural history of the pheasant coucal." Australian Birdlife 1 (1974): 89–93.

Friedmann, H. "Evolutionary trends in the avian genus Clamator." Smithsonian Miscellanea Collection 146 (1964): 1–127.

Gibbs, H. L., M. D. Sorenson, K. Marchetti, M. L. Brooke, N. B. Davies, and H. Nakamura. "Genetic evidence for female host-specific races of the common cuckoo." Nature 407 (2000): 183–186.

Hughes, J. M. "Phylogenetic analysis of the Cuculidae (Aves, Cuculiformes) using behavioral and ecological characters." Auk 113 (1996): 10–22.

Jensen, R. A. C. "Genetics of cuckoo eggs polymorphism." Nature 209 (1966): 827.

Kilner, R. M., D. G. Noble, and N. B. Davies. "Signals of need in parent-offspring communication and their exploitation by the common cuckoo." Nature 397 (1999): 667–672.

Marchetti, K., H. Nakamura, and H. L. Gibbs. "Host-race formation in the common cuckoo." Science 282 (1998): 471–472.

Martínez, J. G., M. Soler, and J. J. Soler. "The effect of magpie breeding density and synchrony on brood parasitism by great spotted cuckoos." Condor 98 (1996): 272–278.

Martínez, J. G., T. Burke, D. Dawson, J. J. Soler, M. Soler, and A. P. Møller. "Microsatellite typing reveals mating patterns in the brood parasitic great spotted cuckoo (Clamator glandarius)." Molecular Ecology 7 (1998): 289–297.

Martínez, J. G., J. J. Soler, M. Soler, and T. Burke. "Spatial patterns of egg laying and multiple parasitism in a brood parasite: a non-territorial system in the great spotted cuckoo (Clamator glandarius)." Oecologia 117 (1998): 286–294.

Martínez, J. G., J. J. Soler, A. P. Møller, and T. Burke. "Comparative population structure and gene flow of a brood parasite, the great spotted cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) and its primary host, the magpie (Pica pica)." Evolution 53 (1999): 269–278.

McLean, I. G. "Response to a dangerous enemy: should a brood parasite be mobbed?" Ethology 75 (1987): 235–245.

Moksnes, A., E. Roskaft, A. T. Braa, L. Korsnes, H. M. Lampe, and H. C. Pedersen. "Behavioural responses of potential hosts towards artificial cuckoo eggs and dummies." Behaviour 116 (1990): 64–89.

Moksnes, A., E. Roskaft, and T. Tysse. "On the evolution of blue cuckoo eggs in Europe." Journal of Avian Biology 26 (1995): 13–19.

Oien, I. J., A. Moksnes, and E. Roskaft. "Evolution of variation in egg color and marking pattern in European passerines: adaptations in a coevolutionary arms race with the cuckoo, Cuculus canorus." Behavioral Ecology 6 (1995): 166–174.

Rothstein, S. I. "A model system for the study of coevolution: avian brood parasitism." Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 21 (1990): 481–508.

Rothstein, S. I. "An experimental test of the Hamilton-Orians hypothesis for the origin of avian brood parasitism." Condor 95 (1993): 1000–1005.

Soler, M., and A. P. Møller. "Duration of sympatry and coevolution between the great spotted cuckoo and its magpie host." Nature 343 (1990): 748–750.

Soler, M., J. G. Martinez, J. J. Soler, and A. P. Møller. "Preferential allocation of food by magpies Pica pica to great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius chicks." Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 37 (1995): 7–13.

Soler, M., J. J. Soler, and J. G. Martinez. "Great spotted cuckoos improve their reproductive success by damaging magpie host eggs." Animal Behaviour 54 (1997): 1227–1233.

Soler, J. J. "Do life-history variables of European cuckoo hosts explain their egg-rejection behavior?" Behavioral Ecology 10 (1999): 1–6.

Soler, J. J., J. G. Martinez, M. Soler, and A. P. Møller. "Genetic and geographic variation in rejection behavior of cuckoo eggs by European magpie populations: an experimental test of rejecter-gene flow." Evolution 53 (1999): 947–956.

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[Article by: Juan Gabriel Martínez, PhD]

An order of birds with zygodactyl feet in which the outer fourth toe is reversed. The order is divided into the suborder Musophagi, containing the single family Musophagidae (touracos; 18 species), and the suborder Cuculi, with the lone family Cuculidae (cuckoos; 129 species).

Touracos are African woodland birds with a loose green, gray, or brown plumage with patches of bright yellow, red, or violet. The nest is a bulky platform placed in a tree, with incubation and care of the chicks shared by the parents. The young leave the nest at an early age (about 10 days) and crawl about the trees before being able to fly.

Cuckoos are diverse. They are mostly arboreal, but some are terrestrial, and some, such as the American roadrunners (Geococcyx) are fast runners with top speeds of about 15 mi/h (25 km/h) and fly rarely. Most cuckoos are secretive, sulking in heavy vegetation. They are strong fliers but do not fly often. Temperate species are migratory. Cuckoos feed on insects, small vertebrates, other animals, and rarely on fruit. Most are solitary, but the anis (Crotophaginae) live in flocks and build a cooperative nest housing several females. Many Old World species (Cuculinae) are nest parasites. See also Aves.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: cuckoos; touracos; etc.
  Synonym: order Cuculiformes

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Cuculiformes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Subclass:	Neornithes
Infraclass:	Neognathae
Superorder:	Neoaves
Order:	Cuculiformes Wagler, 1830
Families
Cuculidae Musophagidae and see text

The near passerine bird order Cuculiformes traditionally included three families as below:

• Musophagidae - turacos and allies
• Cuculidae - cuckoos, coucals and anis
• Opisthocomidae - Hoatzin

However, the taxonomy of this group is now controversial. The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy raises the Musophagidae to an order Musophagiformes which may or may not be warranted. The Hoatzin continues to be enigmatic; it is probably best regarded as a distinct, monotypic order, especially if the turacos are also considered one. The coucals and anis are sometimes considered subfamilies of the Cuculidae, or otherwise assigned to families of their own, the Centropodidae and Crotophagidae respectively.

Evolution

The fossil record of this group is much debated. The unique anatomy of Cuculidae (in the old sense) often allows for the easy identification even of isolated bones. Cuckoos of prehistoric genera are known since the Late Eocene, some 40-35 million years ago. Turaco fossils are known from much later only.

A number of other Paleogene fossils have at times been assigned to the Cuculiformes, but they are not usually included here anymore in more recent treatments: The Late Paleocene to mid-Eocene Gracilitarsidae were at first believed to be cuculiforms but this is not generally accepted today. They remain mysterious though, due to their apomorphic anatomy, and might be close to the equally enigmatic Sylphornithidae known from the mid-Eocene to the Early Oligocene. From the Early Eocene, Parvicuculus and Procuculus might be Cypselomorphae of a hitherto unrecognized lineage. Foro might be allied with the Hoatzin; it had been touted as a "missing link" between this bird and the Cuculiformes proper but as noted above, it is just impossible to closely ally the Hoatzin with any extant birds.

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