The family Cuculidae, belonging to the order Cuculiformes, comprises cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis, a diverse group of primarily tropical and subtropical birds. Cuculids are generally slender with long tails and strong legs, and many species are known for their distinctive calls and striking plumage patterns. A remarkable feature of some members, especially the Old World cuckoos, is brood parasitism, where they lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, leaving the host to raise their young. Their diet varies widely, including insects, small vertebrates, fruits, and seeds, depending on species. These birds inhabit a range of environments, from dense forests to open savannas, and they play important ecological roles in controlling insect populations and dispersing seeds.