Cuckoos Cuculidae
There are 27 genera within this family, of which 4 are thus far listed below. Of the 141 species within the Cuckoo family, the Sumatran Ground-cuckoo Carpocccyx viridis and the Black-hooded Coucal Centropus steerii are critically endangered. The Bay-breasted Cuckoo Hyetornis rufigularis of Hispaniola is endangered. Another six species are considered vulnerable and nine more are near-threatened. Cuckoos are found on every continent, except Antarctica.

Piaya

There are 2 species in the genus.

The Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana is a New World species that is found in a wide variety of habitats from Mexico, south to northwestern Argentina and southeastern Brazil. This bird was photographed in the fabulous grounds of the Hotel Bougainvillea, near San Jose, Costa Rica.






Coccyzus

There are 13 species in this genus. The Bay-breasted Cuckoo Coccyzus rufigularis is considered endangered and the Cocos Cuckoo Coccyzus ferrugineus is vulnerable..

The Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus is a migratory species that breeds in the United States and Mexico. It winters in South America east of the Andes. Vagrants have occasionally been reported in western Europe. Populations of this species have declined at an alarming rate in the western United States. Breeding bird surveys also support evidence that this species is declining elsewhere due to habitat loss. This swooping bird was photographed at the Red Rock Canyon State Park, Hinton, Oklahoma.




Crotophaga

There are 3 species in the genus.

The Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris ranges from southern Texas, south to northern Chile, and Argentina. They can be found in a variety of habitats, including around human settlements. This Groove-billed Ani wintered at the Riparian Preserve, Gilbert, Arizona, where it is considered an extremely rare vagrant.






Geococcyx

There are 2 species in the genus.

A familiar and quite often tame bird of the American southwest, the Greater Roadrunner Coccyzus californianus earned its name from the early days of running down roads ahead of horse drawn vehicles. They are adapt to harsh environmental conditions and feed on a diet of small snakes, lizards, tarantulas, scorpions, and many other insects. Watching these large birds, it is somewhat hard to believe that they are a member of the Cuckoo family. Photographed at the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona.



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