WoodpeckerWoodpeckers are part of the bird family Picidae, which also includes the piculets, wrynecks, and sapsuckers. Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions. Most species live in forests or woodland habitats, although a few species are known that live in treeless areas, such as rocky hillsides and deserts, and the Gila woodpecker specializes in exploiting cacti.
SemnornisThe toucan-barbets are small birds in the genusSemnornis. The genus was often included in the paraphyleticbarbets, but recently is usually classified into a distinct family, Semnornithidae; alternatively, all barbets might be moved to the toucan family Ramphastidae as a subfamily, Semnornithinae. Toucan-barbets comprise only two species: the toucan barbet (S. ramphastinus) and the prong-billed barbet (S. frantzii).
Tree hollowA tree hollow or tree hole is a semi-enclosed cavity which has naturally formed in the trunk or branch of a tree. They are found mainly in old trees, whether living or not. Hollows form in many species of trees. They are a prominent feature of natural forests and woodlands, and act as a resource or habitat for fungi and a number of vertebrate and invertebrate animals.
Precociality and altricialityPrecocial () species in birds and mammals are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. They are normally nidifugous, meaning that they leave the nest shortly after birth or hatching. Altricial species are those in which the young are underdeveloped at the time of birth, maturing with the aid of their parents. These categories form a continuum, without distinct gaps between them.
HornbillHornbills are birds found in tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia and Melanesia of the familyBucerotidae. They are characterized by a long, down-curved bill which is frequently brightly coloured and sometimes has a horny casque on the upper mandible. Hornbills have a two-lobed kidney. They are the only birds in which the first and second neck vertebrae (the atlas and axis respectively) are fused together; this probably provides a more stable platform for carrying the bill.
BeakFacial structure found in birds and various other animal cladesComparison of bird beaks, displaying different shapes adapted to different feeding methods; not to scaleThe beak or bill is an external rostrum structure found mostly in birds. A beak is used for pecking, grasping, and holding (in probing for food, eating, manipulating and carrying objects, killing prey, or fighting), preening, courtship, and feeding young.
SpeciesBasic unit of taxonomic classification, below genusThe hierarchy of biological classification's eight major taxonomic ranks. A genus contains one or more species. Minor intermediate ranks are not shown.A species (pl. species) is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity.
Down featherThe down of birds is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers. Very young birds are clad only in down. Powder down is a specialized type of down found only in a few groups of birds. Down is a fine thermal insulator and padding, used in goods such as jackets, bedding (duvets and featherbeds), pillows and sleeping bags.GenusGenus (; pl.: genera) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus. E.g. Panthera leo (lion) and Panthera onca (jaguar) are two species within the genus Panthera.
Bird migrationSeasonal movement of birdsA flock of barnacle geese during autumn migrationExamples of long-distance bird migration routesBird migration is a seasonal movement of some birds between breeding and wintering grounds that occurs twice a year. It is typically between northern and southern regions. Migration carries inherent risks, including predation and other hazards en route.
Bird eggA bird egg is the reproductive structure produced by female birds, consisting of a hard, calcareous shell that encloses nutrient-dense yolk, protective albumen, and embryonic membranes, providing a self-contained environment for embryonic development and hatching. Bird eggs range in quantity from one (as in condors) to up to seventeen (the grey partridge). Clutch size may vary latitudinally within a species.British EnglishBritish English is the set of varieties of the English language native to the United Kingdom, especially Great Britain. More narrowly, it can refer specifically to the English language in England, or, more broadly, to the collective dialects of English throughout the United Kingdom taken as a single umbrella variety, for instance additionally incorporating Scottish English, Welsh English, and Northern Irish English.
toucanRelated word or term.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.