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How large are the smallest and largest cuckoos?
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Cuculiform
Body plans of representative Cuculiformes.
The size of cuckoos varies significantly across the order:
- Smallest: The small glossy or emerald cuckoos of the genus Chrysococcyx are the smallest members, measuring approximately 15 cm (6 inches) in length.1
- Largest: The largest species include the ground cuckoos (Carpococcyx) and certain species of coucals (Centropus), which can reach nearly 90 cm (about 3 feet) in length, a measurement that often accounts for their strikingly long tails.1