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Order CUCULIFORMES 



Family CUCULIDAE ; Cuckoos, Anis, and Allies; Cuclillos, 

 Garrapateros, y Especies Afines 



The varied members of this family range through the tropical 

 and temperate regions of the world, with 11 of the 130 species found 

 in the Isthmus of Panama. Two are migrants from North America ; 

 two, the pheasant-cuckoo and the ground-cuckoo, are little known ; 

 and of the others only the anis, the striped cuckoo, and the larger spe- 

 cies of squirrel-cuckoo are widely spread and common. The striped 

 cuckoo, often called pdjaro brujero, and the pheasant-cuckoo are 

 parasitic, placing their eggs in the nests of smaller birds that hatch 

 them and rear the young. The others build nests in normal fashion, 

 though the anis are peculiar in that several females may join in plac- 

 ing their eggs in one communal structure, where all share in the 

 duties of incubation and care of the nestlings. 



The diversity found in the living kinds indicates an ancient lineage 

 in geologic time, with close relationship to none of the other American 

 families of birds. The greatest variety in the group of cuckoos, with 

 the largest assemblage of species, is found in southeastern Asia and 

 the East Indian islands. 



KEY TO SPECIES OF CUCULIDAE 



1. Plumage wholly black, (more or less iridescent) 2 



Plumage varied in color 4 



2. Ridge of compressed bill elevated for basal two-thirds only ; size large, wing 



175 mm. or more, tail 235 mm. or more. 



Greater ani, Crotophaga major, p. 121 



Ridge of compressed bill continuous for full length of maxilla ; smaller, wing 



less than 160 mm., tail less than 190 mm 3 



3. Side of maxilla smooth, or with faint, irregular wrinkles only. 



Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani, p. 124 

 Side of maxilla with strong and distinct grooves and ridges. 



Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris sulcirostris, p. 129 



4. Decidedly larger and more robust; bill strong, culmen more than 40 mm.; 



tarsus long and strong, more than 65 mm. 



Rufous-vented ground cuckoo, Ncomorphus geoffroyi sahnni, p. 140 



Smaller and more slender ; bill slender, culmen less than 35 mm. ; tarsus much 



shorter, less than 40 mm 5 



5. Upper surface heavily streaked with black. 



Striped cuckoo, Tapera naevia excellens, p. 132 

 Upper surface without black streaks 6 



6. Gray or dull brownish gray above, lower surface plain 7 



Reddish brown or dull black above; lower surface variegated in color 9 



