Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)

Meropidae (Bee-eaters)

Coraciiformes

Momotidae (Motmots)

Todidae (Todies)

Leptosomatidae (Cuckoo-roller)

Coraciidae (Rollers)

Brachypteraciidae (Ground Rollers)

Phoeniculidae (Woodhoopoes)

Bucerotidae (Hornbills)

Coliiformes

Trogoniformes

Upupidae (Hoopoes)

Alcedinidae - Kingfishers• In the suborder Alcidines with the Todies

and the Motmots• 3 subfamiles• ~ 17 Genera; ~ 91 species• Worldwide excluding polar regions• Only Coraciiformes in N. America• 3.9”, 0.3 ounce Affrican Dwarf Kingfisher• 18”, 17 ounce Laughing Kookaburra

Alcedinidae - KingfishersLarge heads with long thick bills and

short necks

Alcedinidae - KingfishersMost have rounded wings and short

tail

Alcedinidae - KingfishersSmall, syndactyl feet

Alcedinidae - KingfishersFishing• Scan clear water from perch or while

hovering• Dive bill first to capture aquatic prey• Return to perch & beat prey against

tree/rock• Swallow prey head-first

Alcedinidae - KingfishersFishing• Hovering• Diving• Eating

Alcedinidae

Momotidae (Motmots)

Todidae (Todies)

Cerylinae – Water Kingfishers• 3 Genera; 9 spp.• All of the new world kingfishers• 3 old world spp.

Alcedininae – River kingfishers• Most of the “fishing” kingfishers• 2 Genera; ~ 23 spp.• Old World

Daceloninae/Halcyoninae – Tree kingfishers• 12 Genera; ~ 59 spp.• Austalasian, Oriental, Paleoarctic

& Ethiopian

Alcedinidae - Kingfishers• 6 New World Species (Cerylinae)• 3 of those occur in the US• 2 of those occur in Arizona

Alcedinidae - KingfishersArizona species• Green Kingfisher

• Belted Kingfisher

Small crest White collar White collar &Blue breastband

Rufous bellyband

White belly

Rufous breast Shaggy crest

Alcedinidae - KingfishersArizona species• Green Kingfisher

– Non-migratory– Secretive– Fish from perch close to the water– Fly a few inches above the surface of the water– Extreme southeast Arizona:

• Upper San Pedro • Santa Cruz, Sonoita Creek, Cienega Creek, Arivaca Creek

Rufous bellyband

Alcedinidae - KingfishersArizona species• Belted Kingfisher

– Neotropic Migrant– Loud calls and obvious perches– Fish from perch or by hovering– Central to eastern Arizona drainages:

• Verde River • Black River• Upper Little Colorado River

– Expanding breeding range: benefiting from human activities?

» Crayfish» Construction

Rufous bellyband

Alcedinidae - KingfishersHabitat requirements (for breeding

areas)• Clear perennial water with reliable

food source• Available nesting microsite

Alcedinidae - Kingfishers• Cavity nesters: burrows in dirt banks

– River, stream, other water banks– Road banks– Gravel pits

• Pair excavates burrow with bills and pulls dirt out with syndactyl feet

• 2-3’/3-8’ long at an angle upward – flood prevention?

Alcedinidae - KingfishersBiparental care - male and female:

– Build nest cavity– Incubate eggs– Feed young (2-3 weeks after fledging)

Alcedinidae - KingfishersOther notable kingfishers• Ringed Kingfisher – southern Texas

– Larger than Belted– Rufous breast and smaller crest

• Laughing Kookaburra– Largest kingfisher at 18”– Distinct “laughing” song used erroneously in many movies as a

South American/African/Asian jungle sound (Australian native)– Reverse sexual size dimorphism (female larger)

• Marquesas Kingfisher and Micronesian Kingfisher are both endangered