Medium to large, non parasitic, slow-moving cuckoos, typically seen creeping about rank vegetation or sunning themselves, otherwise skulking and only disclosing presence through deep hooting or popping calls. Many coucals have a long claw on their hind toe (hallux), this claw may assist with pushing grass down so that the bird can 'walk on top' of the vegetation.
Depending on population dynamics and the adult sex ratios, they may be polyandrous (females having more than one mate at a time) or monogamous. Males assume the bulk of incubation and tending young. Nest is an untidy ball of grass, leaves and vegetable matter placed low down in reeds, grass ot thicket. Clutches of 3 - 5 white oval eggs. Because incubation starts before clutch completion, the chicks hatch asynchronously. Newly hatched chicks are black with white or reddish hair-like down. When threatened chicks hiss and void foul smelling excreta, like hoopoes. The legs of the chicks develop quickly, they can climb from the nest and run, long before they can fly.

Centropus = spike foot, in reference to long hind claws

Wikipedia

fatbirder.com