African Barbets and Tinkerbirds in East Africa Order – Piciformes – Infraorder Ramphastides – Toucans and Barbets.Almost all species in the order Piciformes are zygodactyl. 2 toes point forward, 2 toes backwards. This seems to be ideal for an arboreal life style.In the family Ramphastidae are Toucans, Aracaris, American Barbets, African Barbets and Tinkerbirds. We concentrate us on…
Bee-eaters and Rollers in East Africa Rollers and Bee-eaters are families in the order – Coraciiformes together with Kingfishers, Motmots and Todies. The 2 last are not in Africa. Most are colourful birds. Another characteristic is that syndactyly feet which means that toe 3 and 4 are fused together. This enlarges the…
Kingfishers - Alcedinidae in East Africa Kingfishers are in the order – Coraciiformes together with Bee-eaters, Rollers, Motmots and Todis. The 2 last are not in Africa. Most are colourful birds. Another characteristic are syndactyly feet which means that toe 3 and 4 are fused together. This enlarges the sole…
Cuckoos, malkohas and coucals Order Cuculiformes - Cuckoos has 1 family - Cuculidae. The other family Hoatzins are not in Africa.The family of Cuckoos has 140 species which are found in tropical, subtropical and temperate zones on all continents except Antarctica. To this family belong: Cuckoos and Coucals as well as others not found…
Grebes, Tropicbirds, Frigatebirds,Cormorants, Darter, Pelicans, Shoebill Grebes - Order PodicipediformesThis order contains only one family Podicipedidae. Grebes are world wide distributed on fresh water bodies Tropicbirds - Order Phaethontiformeshas 1 family Phaethontidae. Tropicbirds are pelagic sea birds and found at oceans all over the world in different species. Occasionally they are found near land…