Kingfishers

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Kingfishers
Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Kingfisher ( Alcedo atthis )

Systematics
Sub-stem : Vertebrates (vertebrata)
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Rockers (Coraciiformes)
Family : Kingfishers
Scientific name
Alcedinidae
Rafinesque , 1815

The kingfishers (Alcedinidae) are in the broader sense a family of birds with three subfamilies:

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.

Shining-blue kingfisher
( Alcedo quadribrachys )
Azure fisherman
( Ceyx azurea )
Laughing Hans
( Dacelo novaeguineae )
Storchschnabelliest
( Pelargopsis capensis )
Braunkopfliest
( Halcyon albiventris )
Gray fisherman ( Ceryle rudis )
Stripe read
( Halcyon chelicuti )
Rotbürzelliest
( Todiramphus pyrrhopygia )
Zimtkopfliest
( Todiramphus cinnamominusreichenbachii )

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

  1. ^ 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 .
  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

Commons : Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files