Editing Cuckoo (section)

== Description ==
[[File:Chestnut-breasted Malkoha2.jpg|thumb|200px|The [[chestnut-breasted malkoha]] is typical of the Phaenicophaeinae in having brightly coloured skin around the eye.]]
Cuckoos are medium-sized birds that range in size from the [[little bronze cuckoo]], at {{convert|17|g|abbr=on|1}} and {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on|0}}, to moderately large birds, ranging from {{convert|60-80|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length, such as the [[giant coua]] of [[Madagascar]], the [[coral-billed ground-cuckoo]] of [[Indochina]], and various large Indo-Pacific coucals such as the [[goliath coucal]] of [[Halmahera]], [[Timor coucal]], [[buff-headed coucal]], [[ivory-billed coucal]], [[violaceous coucal]], and larger forms of the [[pheasant coucal]].<ref name = "ABW">Del Hoyo J. (ed.) (2021) ''All the Birds of the World'' Lynx Edicions:Barcelona. {{ISBN|978-84-16728-37-4}}</ref><ref name = "BirdsIndonesia">Eaton J.A., van Balen B., Brickle N.W. & Rheindt F.E. (2021) ''Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago. Greater Sundas and Wallacea. Second Edition.'' Lynx Edicions:Barcelona. {{ISBN|978-84-16728-44-2}}
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The [[channel-billed cuckoo]], at {{convert|630|g|lboz|frac=2|abbr=on}} and {{convert|63|cm|in|frac=2|abbr=on}} is the largest parasitic cuckoo.{{sfn|Payne|1997}} Generally, little [[sexual dimorphism]] in size occurs, but where it exists, it can be either the male or the female that is larger. One of the most important distinguishing features of the family is the feet, which are [[Dactyly#Zygodactyly|zygodactyl]], meaning that the two inner toes point forward and the two outer backward. The two basic body forms are arboreal species, such as the [[common cuckoo]], which are slender and have short [[Tarsus (skeleton)|tarsi]], and terrestrial species, such as the [[Geococcyx|roadrunners]], which are more heavy set and have long tarsi.{{sfn|Payne|1997}}

Almost all species have long tails that are used for steering in terrestrial species and as a rudder during [[bird flight|flight]] in the arboreal species. The wing shape also varies with lifestyle, with the more [[bird migration|migratory]] species such as the [[black-billed cuckoo]] possessing long, narrow wings capable of strong, direct flight, and the more terrestrial and sedentary cuckoos such as the coucals and malkohas having shorter rounded wings and a more laboured, gliding flight.{{sfn|Payne|1997}}

The subfamily [[Cuculinae]] comprises the brood-parasitic cuckoos of the [[Old World|Old World]].{{sfn|Payne|1997}} They tend to conform to the classic shape, with usually long tails, short legs, long, narrow wings, and an arboreal lifestyle. The largest species, the channel-billed cuckoo, also has the most outsized [[beak|bill]] in the family, resembling that of a [[hornbill]]. The subfamily Phaenicophaeinae comprises the nonparasitic cuckoos of the Old World, and include the couas, malkohas, and ground cuckoos. They are more terrestrial cuckoos, with strong and often long legs and short, rounded wings. The subfamily typically has brighter plumage and brightly coloured bare skin around the eye. 

The coucals are another terrestrial Old World subfamily of long-tailed, long-legged, and short-winged cuckoos. They are large, heavyset birds with the largest, the [[greater black coucal]], being around the same size as the channel-billed cuckoo. Genera of the subfamily Coccyzinae are arboreal and long-tailed, as well, with a number of large insular forms. The [[Neomorphinae|New World ground cuckoos]] are similar to the [[Carpococcyx|Asian ground-cuckoos]] in being long legged and terrestrial, and includes the long-billed [[Geococcyx|roadrunner]], which can reach speeds of {{convert|30|km/h|abbr=on}} when chasing prey. The final subfamily includes the atypical [[Crotophagidae|anis]], which are  the small, clumsy [[Ani (bird)|anis]] and the larger [[guira cuckoo]]. The anis have massive bills and smooth, glossy feathers.

[[File:Chrysococcyx maculatus - Khao Yai.jpg|thumb|Some species, such as the [[Asian emerald cuckoo]] (''Chrysococcyx maculatus'') exhibit [[iridescent]] plumage.]]
The [[feather]]s of the cuckoos are generally soft, and often become waterlogged in heavy rain. Cuckoos often sun themselves after rain, and the anis hold their wings open in the manner of a [[vulture]] or [[cormorant]] while drying. Considerable variation in the [[plumage]] is exhibited by the family. Some species, particularly the brood parasites, have [[Crypsis|cryptic]] plumage, whereas others have bright and elaborate plumage. This is particularly true of the ''[[Chrysococcyx]]'' or glossy cuckoos, which have [[iridescent]] plumage. Some cuckoos have a resemblance to hawks in the genus ''[[Accipiter]]'' with barring on the underside; this apparently alarms potential hosts, allowing the female to access a host nest.<ref>{{cite journal | journal = Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |title=Cuckoo–hawk mimicry? An experimental test |volume=275 |issue=1644 |pages=1817–22 |year=2008 |author1=Davies, NB  |author2=JA Welbergen |doi=10.1098/rspb.2008.0331|pmid=18467298|pmc=2587796}}</ref> 

The young of some brood parasites are coloured to resemble the young of the host. For example, the [[Asian koel]]s breeding in [[India]] have black offspring to resemble their [[crow]] hosts. In the [[Australian koel]]s, the chicks are brown like their [[honeyeater]] hosts. Sexual dimorphism in plumage is uncommon in the cuckoos, being most common in the parasitic Old World species. Cuckoos have 10 {{Birdgloss|primaries|primary flight feathers}} and 9–13 {{Birdgloss|secondaries|secondary flight feathers}}. All species have 10 {{Birdgloss|rectrices|tail feathers}}, apart from the anis, which have eight.{{sfn|Payne|1997|p=513}}<!-- cite only supports number of feathers-->