鵑形目 Cuculiformes

鵑形目 Cuculiformes，來自拉丁文的 cuculus (杜鵑鳥，與雄鳥交配的叫聲相呼應) 和拉丁文的 -fōrmis (形狀)，意思是「杜鵑形狀」，說明這些動物是有杜鵑形狀的和跟杜鵑有關係。

Cuculiformes, Latin cuculus (“cuckoo”, echoic of the male bird's mating cry) and Latin -fōrmis (“-shaped”), means “cuckoo-shaped”, in reference to the fact that these animals are all cuckoo-shaped and cuckoo-related.

種的俗名 Common names of members

杜鵑、走鵑、噪鵑、地鵑、馬島鵑、鴉鵑、犀鵑。 Cuckoos, roadrunners, koels, malkohas, couas, coucals, and anis.

分佈 Distribution

世界各地，除了南美洲的西南部，北美洲的遠被和西北部以及中東和非洲北部最乾燥的地區。

Worldwide, absent only from the southwest of South America, the far north and northwest of North America, and the driest areas of the Middle East and North Africa.

體型 Size

長度範圍於15厘米到60–80厘米。

They range from 15 cm in length up to 60–80 cm.

形態 Morphology

兩種主要的體型：樹棲物種，纖細且跗骨較短；陸生物種，體型較重且跗骨較長。幾乎所有物種的長尾巴都有用途：樹棲物種飛行時的方向舵，以及陸地物種的方向盤。翅膀的形狀也取決於生活方式：遷徙物種的翅膀又長又窄，可以進行直飛行；陸生和定居物種的翅膀較短、呈圓形，可以進行辛勞的滑翔飛行。牠們有相當鬆散的蹼羽毛和稍微向下的彎曲喙。

Arboreal species, which are slender and have short tarsi, and terrestrial species, which are heavier set and have long tarsi, are the two primary body shapes. The long tails of almost all species are utilized as a rudder during flying in arboreal species and as a means of steering in terrestrial species. The shape of the wings also depends on the lifestyle; migratory species have long, narrow wings that allow for strong, direct flight, whereas terrestrial and sedentary species have shorter, rounded wings that allow for more laborious, gliding flight. They have fairly loose-webbed feathers and slightly down curved beak.

生態及棲息地 Ecology & Habitat

大多數物種住在林地和森林，大部分都在熱帶常綠雨林。某些物種生活在紅樹林和沙漠，甚至被限制在那裏。

The majority of species are found in woodlands and forests, mostly in the tropical evergreen rainforests. Certain species live in mangrove forests and deserts, or are even confined there.

食性 Diet

大多數是昆蟲食性動物，主要是較大的昆蟲和毛毛蟲；然而，有些物種專屬捕食小型嚙齒動物、鳥類、蜥蜴和蛇。只有一小部分是果食性的。

The majority are insectivorous, with a focus on larger insects and caterpillars; however, there are some species that are specialized in consuming small rodents, birds, lizards, and snakes. Only a tiny percentage is frugivorous.

繁殖 Reproduction

大多數是一夫一妻制，雖然有些物種有表現一妻多夫制。儘管大部分都建造自己的巢穴，牠們還是會巢寄生

The majority are monogamous, although several species do exhibit polyandry. A significant portion of them engage in brood parasitism, although the majority construct their own nests.