Neomorphinae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neomorphinae |
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| A greater roadrunner, Geococcyx Californianus | |
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Neomorphinae
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Dromococcyx |
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The Neomorphinae are a group of birds that belong to the cuckoo family. You might know them as "New World ground cuckoos." Most of these birds live on the ground, especially in the Americas. However, two groups, called Dromococcyx and Tapera, prefer living in trees.
Contents
What They Look Like
These birds all have long legs and long tails. They come in different sizes. For example, the famous roadrunners are about 48 to 56 centimeters (19 to 22 inches) long. The smallest bird in this group is the striped cuckoo, which is about 26 to 29 centimeters (10 to 11 inches) long.
What They Eat
New World ground cuckoos are omnivores. This means they eat both plants and animals. They enjoy many types of insects, like grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars. They also hunt spiders and scorpions.
Sometimes, they eat bigger prey like snakes (even rattlesnakes!), lizards, and other small birds or their eggs. Small mammals like mice, young rabbits, and even bats are also on their menu. Besides meat, they also munch on seeds and fruits.
Where They Live
You can find New World ground cuckoos in many places across the Americas. They live in forests, woodlands, and even deserts.
Types of New World Ground Cuckoos
There are several different groups, or genera, of these birds:
- Genus: Tapera
- Striped cuckoo, Tapera naevia
- Genus: Neomorphus
- Rufous-vented ground cuckoo, Neomorphus geoffroyi
- Red-billed ground cuckoo, Neomorphus pucheranii
- Banded ground cuckoo, Neomorphus radiolosus
- Rufous-winged ground cuckoo, Neomorphus rufipennis
- Scaled ground cuckoo, Neomorphus squamiger
- Genus: Morococcyx
- Lesser ground cuckoo, Morococcyx erythropygus
- Genus: Geococcyx
- Lesser roadrunner, Geococcyx velox
- Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus
- Genus: Dromococcyx
- Pavonine cuckoo, Dromococcyx pavoninus
- Pheasant cuckoo, Dromococcyx phasianellus
See also
In Spanish: Cucos terrestres del Nuevo Mundo para niños
