KINGFISHERS, 
HORNBILLS, TOUCANS 
AND WOODPECKERS 
This large order contains such impressive birds as the widely distributed 
kingfishers; the West Indian todies; the Central and South American mot- 
mots; the Old World bee-eaters, rollers, hoopoes and hornbills; the ground- 
rollers of Madagascar; the wood-hoopoes of Africa; the jacamars and puff- 
birds of Central and South America; the tropical barbets; the honey-guides 
of the Old World; the Central and South American toucans; and the wood¬ 
peckers and piculets found everywhere except in Madagascar and Australia. 
The flickers are woodpeckers found in parts of the United States and 
Canada. 
Of the many legends concerning kingfishers one of the strangest is 
from Ovid who claimed that the birds made their nests on the waves. 
Darwin, who noticed the hare patches on the motmot’s tail, suggested that 
the bird itself nibbled off some of the barbs in order to appear more 
attractive to its mate. The rollers are so-called because of their peculiar 
rolling flight which resembles that of tumbling pigeons. Woodpeckers have 
developed the habit of climbing trees in a spiral path so that they will 
not miss a peck at any portion of the decaying wood. 
Kingfishers: 
Hornbills: 
Toucans: 
Woodpeckers: 
Belted Kingfisher. 
Laughing Jackass. 
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill. 
Lesser Hornbill. 
Toucan. 
Pileated Woodpecker. 
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