Cuculiformes are largish land birds with zygodactyl feet (fourth toe permanently reversed), large, often decurved bills, and long tails. The taxonomy of this group continues to be uncertain, and is comprised of three to six families. India has 23 species of Cuculiformes in two families: Cuculidae (cuckoos, malkohas) and Centropodidae (coucals).

Family: Centropodidae

Brown Coucal Centropus andamanensis - local resident
Lesser Coucal or Black Coucal Centropus bengalensis - local resident
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis - widespread resident
 

Family: Cuculidae

Sub-family: Cuculinae

Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus - local resident
Grey-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus - widespread resident
Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii - local resident
Asian Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx maculatus - local resident
Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus - local resident
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus - local resident
Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo Cuculus fugax - local resident
Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus - widespread resident
Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus - local resident
Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus - local resident
Large Hawk-Cuckoo Cuculus sparverioides - local resident
Common Hawk-Cuckoo Cuculus varius - widespread resident
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo Clamator coromandus - local resident
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea - widespread resident
Pied Cuckoo Oxylophus jacobinus - widespread resident
Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris - local resident

Sub-family: Phaenicophaeinae

Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis - widespread resident
Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris - widespread resident
Sirkeer Malkoha Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii - widespread resident
Red-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus - local resident?