Piciformes
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Nine families of largely arboreal birds make up the order Piciformes which includes the woodpeckers, toucans and close relatives. The Piciformes contain about 67 living genera with a little over 400 species, of which the Picidae (woodpeckers and relatives) make up about half.
In general, the Piciformes are insectivorous, although the barbets and toucans mostly eat fruit and the honeyguides are unique among birds in being able to digest beeswax (although insects make up the bulk of their diet). Nearly all Piciformes have parrot-like zygodactyl feet—two toes forward and two back, an arrangement that has obvious advantages for birds that spend much of their time on tree trunks. An exception are a few species of three-toed woodpeckers. All nest in cavities and have altricial young. For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Aves | |||
Keel-billed toucan | Toco toucan | White-throated toucan | |
Black woodpecker | European green woodpecker | Great spotted woodpecker | |
Ivory-billed woodpecker | Japanese green woodpecker | Kaempfer's woodpecker | |
Okinawa woodpecker | Pileated woodpecker |