Order Coraciiformes Kingfisher Hoopoe Bee eater Motmot Hornbill and more 300 spp in 11 families Largely an Old World and tropical group Each family has very distinctive traits but all share in common syndactylous toes Two of three toes are partially fused to make digging easier Large heads short necks and colorful plumages Most diverse order in body weight Masses ranging from 5 5 g to 4 5 kg Family Alcedinidae Kingfishers 95 spp Worldwide except polar regions 3 species in North America Boldly colored with blues and greens and oranges or reds Large heads with long pointed bills and stubby tails Sexually Dimorphic Females lay up to 10 eggs incubated by male and female Nest in tree hollows and holes dug into ground or river banks Dig small tunnels with nest at the end up to 8 m long Coraciiformes Alcedinidae Feed mainly on fish but also insects and frogs Hover or perch over water before diving after fish Woodland species may eat reptiles and birds Perch in trees until prey spotted then launch a surprise attack Prone to predation due to generally small size Main predators include foxes raccoons snakes small mammals and large birds Many species are considered threatened Numbers declining mainly due to habitat loss Species that inhabit woodlands and forests are declining due to deforestation Family Alcedinidae Kingfishers Among most species sexes look alike but not all Belted kingfisher one of few bird species in which female is more brightly colored than the male As nestlings have acidic stomachs to digest bones scales and shells By time they leave the nest stomach chemistry changes Begin regurgitating pellets Coraciiformes Motmotidae Motmots 10 spp Neotropical Mexico to northern Argentina Small to medium sized birds with broad massive bill Bill is decurved with serrated edges Long tail often see weaker barbs shed leaving retrices with distinct spatulate tipped feathers Family Motmotidae Motmots Most are colorful iridescent blues and greens Range across various habitats prefer lowlands Perch upright and remain motionless or wag tail in pendulum like motion Monogamous breeders Most nest as single pairs but some form small colonies Excavate a hole to nest in Lay 3 5 white eggs which hatch altricial young who are fed by both parents Coraciiformes Coraciidae Rollers Primarily found in Africa distributions from west Europe through India and rest of Asia to East Australia Primitive condition of the middle ear bone suggests rollers to be a distinct more primitive group of coraciiformes order Omnivorous Broad long wings and broad tail Juvenile birds resemble adults brightly colored Stout hook tipped bill suited to grasping prey from ground Courtship displays include rolling acrobatics while flying as well as loud calls Lay 3 5 white eggs altricial incubated by both parents Rollers Coraciiformes Meropidae Bee eaters 26 spp of brightly colored birds Tropical and semi tropical regions of Europe Africa Asia Australia and the South Pacific Most species are green with red yellow blue or black markings Some have a black stripe that runs from the eye to the base of the bill Long sharply pointed black bills and long tails Family Meropidae Bee eaters Insectivores primarily flying insects Sit on branches and wait for insects to pass May chase insects or snatch them out of the air Often eat bees and wasps Behavior very social live in flocks Builds nests in riverbanks Cooperative breeders Both migratory and resident species Order Upupiformes Hoopoe 2 families in 9 spp Widespread in Asia Europe and parts of North America Known for foul smelling nests and stench produced by female preen gland Anti predator defense system Deters parasites and acts as antibacterial agent Smells like rotting meat Upupidae Eurasian Hoopoe 9 subspecies Common in India Asia Africa and Europe Medium sized bird with short legs long slender decurved bill Modified musculature allows bill to open while probing ground for insects and small invertebrates Broad rounded wings back and tail barred black and white Distinctive erectile crest with tipped with black Upupidae Habitat 2 basic requirements Bare ground to forage on Vertical surfaces with cavities in which to nest Breeding Monogamous for duration of breeding season Female incubates alone Clutch size varies with location farther north the bird is the more eggs laid precocial birth Territorial Stab rival birds with their bills Phoeniculidae Wood Hoopoe and Scimitarbills 8 species Sub saharan Africa Prefer tropical and subtropical wooded habitats Medium sized arboreal birds Generally iridescent black in color Forceps like decurved bill more curved in scimitarbills Access to arthropod prey in cracks of tree bark Pheoniculidae Not migratory Males and females look the same Nest in unlined tree holes Lay 2 4 eggs which are blue grey or olive Monogomous cooperative breeder Nonbreeding birds help breeding pair incubate eggs and care for chicks Order Bucerotiformes Hornbills 54 spp in 2 families Old world birds not found in Americas Omnivorous 75 of the 54 species are forest dwelling Long bills help to reach food items from branch extremities Only birds with first two vertebrae fused together Only birds with a two lobed kidney Family Bucerotidae Hornbills 75 of the 54 species are forest dwelling Long bills help to reach food items from branch extremities Short rounded wings only capable of short flights Casque outgrowth atop the bill Hollow composed of same keratin as bill Monogamous maintain pair bond throughout year Cooperative breeding Female seals self inside nesting cavity then molts all feathers at once while incubating eggs Leaves entrance slit just big enough for male to pass food through