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Cuckoos get their name from the sound just one of their species make: ''cuck-ooo, cuck-ooo'', from the common cuckoo, ''Cuculus canorus''.  

Cuckoos get their name from the sound just one of their species make: ''cuck-ooo, cuck-ooo'', from the common cuckoo, ''Cuculus canorus''.  

All species of the subfamily Cuculinae and three species of Phaenicophaeinae practice brood parasitism, the habit for which cuckoos are best known.  The cuckoo female of these subfamilies seeks out a nest, usually those birds who nest within marshes, and lays a single egg.  The host bird now has an additional egg to incubate, albeit slightly larger; the deception is further enhanced by the fact that the 47 species of Cuculinae also practice egg mimicry, i.e. the cuckoo egg laid in the host nest matches the host's in color and pattern.  The cuckoo may also have removed the host bird's own eggs; if not, then the newly-hatched chick removes them, pushing both eggs and host chicks out of the nest.   

All species of the subfamily Cuculinae and three species of Phaenicophaeinae practice brood parasitism, the habit for which cuckoos are best known.  The cuckoo female of these subfamilies seeks out a nest, usually those birds who nest within marshes, and lays a single egg.  The host bird now has an additional egg to incubate, albeit slightly larger; the deception is further enhanced by the fact that the 47 species of Cuculinae also practice egg mimicry, i.e. the cuckoo egg laid in the host nest matches the host's in color and pattern.  The cuckoo may also have removed the host bird's own eggs; if not, then the newly hatched chick removes them, pushing both eggs and host chicks out of the nest.   

The majority of cuckoo species build their own nests, rearing their young normally in the manner of other birds; those of the subfamily Crotophaginae (anis and guira) build their nests communally.

The majority of cuckoo species build their own nests, rearing their young normally in the manner of other birds; those of the subfamily Crotophaginae (anis and guira) build their nests communally.

Cuckoos are generally solitary birds, found in thick forests world-wide; some species have been observed in open savanna where a large number of trees are present, while the ground cuckoos inhabit desert scrub.  Almost all species are predatory, feeding on insects, with the larger species preying on small snakes, lizards, mice, and birds.  The genus ''Coua'' of [[Madagascar]] is the sole exception; its ten species feed on fruit.

Cuckoos are generally solitary birds, found in thick forests worldwide; some species have been observed in open savanna where a large number of trees are present, while the ground cuckoos inhabit desert scrub.  Almost all species are predatory, feeding on insects, with the larger species preying on small snakes, lizards, mice, and birds.  The genus ''Coua'' of [[Madagascar]] is the sole exception; its ten species feed on fruit.

==Taxonomy==

==Taxonomy==