Kingfishers
Kingfishers | ||||||||
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Kingfisher ( Alcedo atthis ) |
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Systematics | ||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||
Alcedinidae | ||||||||
Rafinesque , 1815 |
The kingfishers (Alcedinidae) are in the broader sense a family of birds with three subfamilies:
- Common Kingfishers (Alcedininae)
- Tree Kingfishers or Lieste (Halcyoninae)
- Water Kingfishers or Fishing Kingfishers (Cerylinae)
The three subfamilies are also run inconsistently as independent families and then bear the scientific names Alcedinidae (here only for the actual kingfishers), Halcyonidae and Cerylidae.
Overall, the kingfishers include around 90 species . The greatest biodiversity can be found in tropical and subtropical regions, but some species have penetrated into the cold temperate regions, especially in North and South America.
description
Kingfishers are small to medium-sized, mostly colorful birds . Many authors attribute their name to the ice-blue plumage of several species. The most important species characteristics are the beak and the feet. The latter are very short and syndactyl - the front (third and fourth) toes have grown together for most of their length. The second toe is often reduced in size or not developed at all. The beak is usually large and strong and tapering to the front.
The shape of the beaks varies and depends on the food: that of the fish-eating species from the subfamilies of the fishing kingfishers ( Cerylinae) and the actual kingfishers (Alcedininae) is straight and tapering at the front. The one of the Jägerlieste ( Dacelo novaeguineae, in Australia called Kookaburra) is rather wide and not so long and suitable for crushing their prey (small mammals and reptiles ). A specialty is the Hakenliest ( Melidora macrorrhina ), which specializes in prey underground, and accordingly has a beak with a hook-like tip. The frog's beak ( Clytoceyx rex ) digs through the ground for earthworms with its powerful, short and wide beak. The size varies greatly - from the small, ten centimeter long and about ten grams heavy brown-headed dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx lecontei ) to over 40 centimeters long and 400 gram species such as the African giant fisherman ( Megaceryle maxima ) or the laughing Hans ( Dacelo novaeguinaeae ).
Most species live in the tropics of Africa, Asia and Australia. There is only one species native to Europe, the kingfisher ( Alcedo atthis ).
In some cases, the order kingfisher-like (Alcediniformes) is separated from the rocket birds, to which the kingfishers, sawsacks , todis and bee-eaters are then counted.
Kingfishers live both in the forest and by the water. The laughing Hans , at 45 cm the world's largest kingfisher, is a forest bird from Australia. In contrast, the European kingfisher lives by the water.
Kingfishers that live on the water hunt small fish by diving flights. They feed on frogs and insects. Forest kingfishers eat reptiles.
Internal system
The phylogeny of the kingfishers (Alcedinidae) was reconstructed by comparing mitochrial and nuclear DNA sequences from 38 representative species. The Australian region and the Pacific islands have the highest population density, but the diversity of species does not reflect a long history in the region. Nevertheless, the high density and distribution in Australia is attributed to relatively early emigration from South Asia. So the preferred explanation for the origin of the New World taxa lies in two scattered events in the Old World . Within the genus Halcyon , phylogeny has been well researched and provides insight into general relationships. Accordingly, she supports the separation of Todiramphus and Halcyon . In addition, Todiramphus and Syma are sister genera as well as Halcyon and Pelargopsis . Thus, joining or keeping these groups is a rather subjective decision. According to the study, the current boundaries between Ceyx and Alcedo do not appear to represent natural groups, although the relationships within the Alcedinidae are not yet fully understood.
- Subfamily Common Kingfishers (Alcedininae)
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Ispidina - 2 types:
- Natal dwarf fisherman ( Ispidina picta )
- Brown- headed dwarf fisherman ( Ispidina lecontei )
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Corythornis - 6 types:
- Madagascar dwarf fisherman ( Corythornis madagascariensis )
- White-bellied pygmy fish ( Corythornis leucogaster )
- Crested dwarf fisherman ( Corythornis cristatus )
- Sao Tomé pygmy fisherman ( Corythornis thomensis )
- Principezwergfischer ( Corythornis nais )
- Malegassian dwarf fisherman or black-billed dwarf fisherman ( Corythornis vintsioides )
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Three-toed kingfishers ( Ceyx ) - 25 species:
- Talaud dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx sangirensis )
- Sulawesi dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx fallax )
- Gold dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx melanurus )
- Mindanao dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx mindanensis )
- Jungle dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx erithaca )
- Redback fisherman ( Ceyx rufidorsa )
- Philippine dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx margarethae )
- Moluccan dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx lepidus )
- Sulaz dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx wallacii )
- Buru dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx cajeli )
- Papuan dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx solitarius )
- Manus dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx dispar )
- New Hanover dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx mulcatus )
- New Britain pygmy fisherman ( Ceyx sacerdotis )
- Bougainville pygmy fisherman ( Ceyx meeki )
- New orgy pygmy fisherman ( Ceyx collectoris )
- Guadalcanal pygmy fisherman ( Ceyx nigromaxilla )
- San Cristobal dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx gentianus )
- Blue-breasted pygmy fish ( Ceyx cyanopectus )
- Indigo breast pygmy fisherman ( Ceyx nigrirostris )
- Platinum dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx flumenicola )
- Silver dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx argentatus )
- Azure dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx azurea )
- Bismarck dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx websteri )
- Mangrove dwarf fisherman ( Ceyx pusillus )
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Alcedo - 7 to 8 types:
- Kingfisher ( Alcedo atthis )
- Turquoise Kingfisher ( Alcedo coerulescens )
- Chest banded kingfisher ( Alcedo euryzona )
- Hercules Kingfisher ( Alcedo hercules )
- Meninting Kingfisher ( Alcedo meninting )
- Blue banded kingfisher ( Alcedo peninsulae )
- Shining-blue kingfisher ( Alcedo quadribrachys )
- Cobalt Kingfisher ( Alcedo semitorquata )
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Ispidina - 2 types:
- Subfamily Lieste (Halcyoninae)
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Lacedo - 2 types:
- Reads shaft ( Lacedo pulchella )
- Black- faced flowers ( Lacedo melanops )
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Clytoceyx - 1 species:
- Frog's beak ( Clytoceyx rex )
- Hook leash ( Melidora ) - 1 type:
- Hakenliest ( Melidora macrorrhina )
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Cittura - 1 type:
- Blue earliest ( Cittura cyanotis )
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Jägerlieste ( Dacelo ) - 4 types:
- Jägerliest or Lachender Hans ( Dacelo novaeguineae )
- Haubenliest ( Dacelo leachii )
- Aruliest ( Dacelo tyro )
- Rotbelbelliest ( Dacelo gaudichaud )
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Pelargopsis - 3 types:
- Brown-winged liest ( Pelargopsis amauroptera )
- Storchschnabelliest ( Pelargopsis capensis )
- Black- billed liest ( Pelargopsis melanorhyncha )
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Halcyon - 11 species:
- Feuerliest ( Halcyon coromanda )
- Chestnut Lair ( Halcyon badia )
- Braunliest ( Halcyon smyrnensis )
- Kappenliest ( Halcyon pileata )
- Javaliest ( Halcyon cyanoventris )
- Gray head ( Halcyon leucocephala )
- Senegalliest ( Halcyon senegalensis )
- Mangrove orchard ( Halcyon senegaloides )
- Zügelliest ( Halcyon malimbica )
- Braunkopfliest ( Halcyon albiventris )
- Stripe read ( Halcyon chelicuti )
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Todiramphus - 24 species:
- Darkest ( Todiramphus nigrocyaneus )
- Rotnackenliest ( Todiramphus winchelli )
- Lasurliest ( Todiramphus diops )
- Lazuliliest ( Todiramphus lazuli )
- Spiegeliest ( Todiramphus macleayii )
- White back lily ( Todiramphus albonotatus )
- Ultramarine reads ( Todiramphus leucopygius )
- Brown Belly Reads ( Todiramphus farquhari )
- Rotbürzelliest ( Todiramphus pyrrhopygia )
- Flachschnabelliest ( Todiramphus recurvirostris )
- Cinnamon head ( Todiramphus cinnamominus )
- Molukkenliest ( Todiramphus funebris )
- Halsbandliest ( Todiramphus chloris ) or ( Halcyon chloris )
- Talautliest ( Todiramphus enigma )
- Echsenliest ( Todiramphus saurophaga )
- Timorliest ( Todiramphus australasia )
- Idol ( Todiramphus sanctus )
- Tahitiliest ( Todiramphus veneratus )
- Mangaialiest ( Todiramphus ruficollaris )
- Boraboraliest ( Todiramphus tuta )
- Marquesasliest ( Todiramphus godeffroyi )
- Tuamotuliest ( Todiramphus gambieri )
- Palau cinnamon stick ( Todiramphus pelewensis )
- Pohnpei cinnamon head ( Todiramphushabenbachii )
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Caridonax - 1 type:
- Glitzerliest ( Caridonax fulgidus )
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Actenoides - 6 species:
- Bartliest ( Actenoides bougainvillei ), also Bougainville-Bartliest or Mustached Kingfisher
- Malaienliest ( Actenoides concretus )
- Droplets ( Actenoides lindsayi )
- Mindanaoliest ( Actenoides hombroni )
- Einsiedlerliest ( Actenoides monachus )
- Königsliest ( Actenoides princeps )
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Syma - 2 types:
- Yellow-billed liest ( Syma torotoro )
- Bergliest ( Syma megarhyncha )
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Paradise Kingfisher ( Tanysiptera ) - 9 species:
- Fairy Reads ( Tanysiptera hydrocharis )
- Spatelliest ( Tanysiptera galatea )
- Elliotliest ( Tanysiptera ellioti )
- Biakliest ( Tanysiptera riedelii )
- Numforliest ( Tanysiptera carolinae )
- Nymphenliest ( Tanysiptera nympha )
- Braunmantelliest ( Tanysiptera danae )
- Paradise read (
- Schwarzkappen-Paradiesliest , ( Tanysiptera nigriceps )
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Lacedo - 2 types:
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Long-tailed fishermen ( Megaceryle ) - 4 species:
- Belt fisherman ( Megaceryle alcyon ) or ( Ceryle alcyon )
- Giant fisherman (
- Red-breasted fisherman ( Megaceryle torquata ) or ( Ceryle torquatus )
- Sorrowfish ( Megaceryle lugubris )
- Gray fisherman ( Ceryle rudis )
- Amazon fisherman ( Chloroceryle amazona )
- Green fisherman ( Chloroceryle americana )
- Two-color fisherman ( Chloroceryle inda )
- Archfisherman ( Chloroceryle aenea )
mythology
In Greek mythology , the fifty daughters of the Cypriot king Kinyras were turned into kingfishers. The kingfisher was associated with the sea and ruled the halcyon days before the autumn storms began. Some genus of kingfisher therefore have their scientific names: Halcyon from Alkyone , the daughter of Enarete and Aiolos , and Ceyx from Keyx , consort of the Alkyone.
Individual evidence
- ^ Robert G. Moyle, KP Johnson: A molecular phylogeny of kingfishers (alcedinidae) with insights into early biogeographic history . In: The Auk . tape 123 , no. 2 , April 1, 2006, p. 487-499 , doi : 10.1642 / 0004-8038 (2006) 123 [487: AMPOKA] 2.0.CO; 2 .
- ↑ a b c Woodall, PF (2017). Kingfishers (Alcedinidae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, DA & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (accessed from http://www.hbw.com/node/52271 on September 18, 2017)
Web links
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System Alcedinidae
- The Animal Diversity Web Family Alcedinidae
- Project kingfisher, bio- and mythology, species protection, etc.
- Investigation of the external phylogeny of the Alcedinidae (PDF file; 584 kB)