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Home , Kakapo, Opisthocomidae

Birds of the World IV: through Woodpeckers

Order Psittaciformes, Parrots and Allies Order Cuculiformes, and Allies Some authors recognize three families in this order, others recog- Nearly cosmopolitan land with zygodactyl feet (fourth toe nized only one. We will follow the latter approach. permanently reversed), large, often decurved bills, and long tails. Three families, two presented here. Psittacidae, Parrots (80/360) Family Cuculidae, Cuckoos, Anis, Roadrunner (21/97)

Distribution.— Pantropical and south temperate. (the North temperate Carolina Parakeet was driven to extinction in the Distribution.— Cosmopolitan in temperate and tropical regions 1920’s). except . Characteristics.— Small to large birds (10–100 cm). Powerful Characteristics.— Small to medium-sized birds (15–80 cm). hooked , upper mandible articulated and movable. The Bill stout, decurved. Body slim, legs typically short, feet zygodactyl. bulging cere is feathered in some . Large head and short Tail long, graduate. loose, usually dull colored. Sexes alike. neck. Feet zygodactyl. Well developed . Oil gland often absent. Habitat.— Wide range of habitats, or open brushland typ- Plumage sparse, hard, and glossy. Most are brightly colored, often ical. green. Powder downs are scattered throughout the plumage. Sexes Habits.— Northern species are migratory. Most are solitary alike. Calls usually noisy, harsh, and screeching; not imitative in except the anis. Most species are arboreal and insectivorous (many nature. Very long lived (up to 80 years in captivity). Considered to eat hairy caterpillars). Voice is loud and non-musical. be highly intelligent. Breeding.— About fifty species are brood parasites, some obli- Habitat.— Mostly found in forests, especially tropical lowland gate. Some of these produce that mimic those of their hosts. rainforest. Parasitic species lay many eggs per breeding season. Non-parasitic Habits.— Nonmigratory. Usually gregarious. Typically arboreal, species are monogamous: incubation and care of young done by climbing using the bill, and using the feet to manipulate food. Diet both sexes. Eggs 2–6. Anis are communal breeders: groups consists generally consists of fruit, grains, nuts, and nectar, but many of 1–4 monogamous pairs and unmated helpers. All group mem- species are sometimes carnivorous. bers contribute to nest building, rearing young, and territory Breeding.— Monogamous, some species forming a long-term or defense. Females sometimes removed the eggs of other females lifetime pair bond. Many species with subtle courtship displays. from the communal nest. Young of all Cuculids are naked, nidi- Nest is usually an unlined hollows in a tree, a bluff, a bank, or ter- colous, and altricial. Young of parasitic species are capable of eject- mite mound. Eggs 1–12, pure white. Both sexes incubate and feed ing host eggs and young from the nest. young by regurgitation. Young are naked, nidicolous, and altricial. Illinois species: Notes.— The or of is a large, [ ] Black-billed (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) Fairly nocturnal, ground dwelling parrot that may be doomed to extinc- common migrant, uncommon summer resident (N) / tion since current population is extremely small. Its initial decline Breeds [M58] was caused by introduced predators. Many other Psittacines are endangered by the caged trade. [ ] Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) Common migrant and winter resident / Breeds [M59]

Birds of the World IV 23

Family Opisthocomidae, (1/1)

size. Generally golden-brown dorsally and whitish ventrally and marked with gray and black. Eyes dark. Conspicuous white facial Distribution.— Northeastern . disk is somewhat reminiscent of a monkey’s face. Characteristics.— Somewhat -like. Long crest of stiff Habits.— Nocturnal and usually solitary. Lifelong pairbond. ; bare, bright blue skin on face; bill short and stout; neck Voice is eerie screech, but typically not very vocal except around long; large rounded wings and tail; legs short, feet large. nest. Flies silently. Eggs 4–7, laid in large tree cavity, abandoned degenerate; crop large and muscular. Plumage loosely webbed, building, sinkholes, or sometimes on ground; no nest built. Female ruddy brown marked with white. Tail with buffy terminal band. incubates. Young nidicolous, but born with down. Both parents Have strong, musky odor. Sexes alike. feed. Eat small mammals, birds, insects, and herps. Habitat.— Trees and shrubs along forested stream banks. Notes.— Extremely acute hearing. In experiments where mice Habits.— Gregarious, sedentary. Flight quite weak; mainly glide. were placed in total darkness with a barn owl the mice were safe as Use wings to climb around in trees, often breaking off primaries in long as they remained motionless. At the first rustle, however, the the process. Eat leaves of the Water-arum and White Mangrove barn owl quickly captured its prey. almost exclusively; will eat some fruits and flowers of same species. Illinois species: Breeding.— Communal breeders; mating may be polygamous; all [ ] Barn Owl (Tyto alba) Rare resident / Breeds (endan- members of group incubate and care for young. Nest built of gered) [M60] sticks; placed in tree or bush overhanging water. Eggs 2–5, buff with brown spots. Incubation period unknown. Young are fed plant material from crops of adults; naked at hatching; first and Family Strigidae, Typical (23/156) second digit of wing carry claw for grasping branches (these disap- pear with age); flight development is slow. Young able to clamber about in vegetation; escape predation by diving into water, swimming and hiding close to shore; will climb back to nest later. Order Strigiformes, Owls Eyes face forward in a pronounced facial disk. Soft, fluffy plumage aids silent flight. Comb-like filaments at leading edge of flight feathers (particularly first primary) present in nocturnal species. Bill strongly hooked; cere present. Large head on relatively short neck. Strong raptorial feet. Outer toe reversible. Sexually mono- chromatic, but female often larger than male. Sclerotic ring fused Distribution.— Worldwide except for some oceanic islands and to skull, so eyes are immobile. Right and left ear openings differ in Antarctica. size and shape; this characteristic, in addition to the sound funnel- Characteristics.— Facial disk rounded. Legs shorter in length ing effect of the facial disk, enhances hearing efficiency. Most are than tail. Middle toenail not pectinate. Third toe longer than sec- nocturnal. No crop. Undigested prey regurgitated as pellets. Two ond. Small to large birds with front facing eyes. Many species have families. ear tufts. Flank feathers elongated. Long, soft feathers are often brown, black, gray, and/or rufous. Tails usually short. Wings large Family Tytonidae, Barn Owls, Bay Owls, and Grass and rounded. Owls (2/17) Habitat.— Various: many in , but also savannahs, deserts, Distribution.— Cosmopolitan except for poles, New Zealand, tundra, etc. and Oceania. Barn owl has largest range of any nocturnal bird Habits.— Most nest in cavities, but a few use abandoned hawk species. nests, cliffs, or burrows. Eggs 1–7, both sexes incubate. Young nidi- Characteristics.— Facial disk heart-shaped. Legs longish, gen- colous, but born with down. Both parents feed. Eat small mam- erally greater in length than tail. Middle toenail pectinate. mals, birds, insects, Some species catch insects in flight. Seven Powderdown feathers present. Tarsi feathered (except for grass species in and Asia catch fish and have unfeathered tarsi and owls), but toes bare. No ear tufts. Second and third toes of equal feet (like Osprey).

24 eee 335 Strigidae

Notes.— Polychromatism is fairly common. Most are nonmigra- Eyes reflect light at night. Cryptically marked in brown, black, and tory, but several northern species irrupt southward during severe gray. Sexes subtly dimorphic. Most species have loud, unusual winters when northern prey populations are low. songs which are monotonously repeated from the ground Illinois species: (nighthawks call only while in flight). Habitat.— Forest edges, savannas, and deserts; some species [ ] Eastern Screech-Owl (Otus asio) Common resident / found in the forest interior. Breeds [M61] Habits.— Nocturnal or crepuscular. Catch insects in flight, many by flying up from the ground to capture prey overhead. Most [ ] Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) Common resi- species perch on the ground, but when perched in trees they align dent / Breeds [M62] themselves lengthwise on horizontal branches. Breeding.— Monogamous. Two (rarely one) cryptic eggs laid on [ ] Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) Occasional winter resi- the ground. Nighthawks nest on flat-topped buildings. Incubation dent decreasing southward (16–20 days) shared by both sexes. Will do elaborate broken-wing distraction displays in the vicinity of the nest. Young nidicolous [ ] Barred Owl (Strix varia) Common resident / Breeds and hatch with down, fed by both adults by regurgitation. [M63] Notes.— Aestivation recorded in the Poor-will. Some species will move eggs or young to new location if disturbed. [ ] Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) Uncommon migrant and Illinois species: winter resident, rare summer resident / Breeds [M64] [ ] Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) Common [ ] Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) Uncommon migrant migrant and summer resident / Breeds [M66] and winter resident, rare summer resident / Breeds (endangered) [M65] [ ] Chuck-will’s-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis) Uncommon migrant and summer resident in the south [ ] Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) / Breeds [M67] Uncommon to rare migrant and winter resident [ ] Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus) Common Order , Nighthawks, migrant and summer resident / Breeds [M68] Nightjars, and Allies Soft-feathered birds with long, pointed wings, short, weak legs, Order , and Swifts small bills, and very large mouths. Most species are very cryptically Excellent fliers, these birds have short, stout humeri and elongated colored and marked intricately with gray, black, and brown. Most outer arm bones giving them their characteristic wing shape. are nocturnal or crepuscular aerial insectivores, and are good fliers. Extremely small, weak feet. Lack rictal bristles. Eggs elongated, Many species have long rictal bristles, which effectively increase the rounded at both ends, and white. Young hatch naked and are altri- diameter of the mouth and act as a net for capturing insects. The cial. Three families, two presented here. young are downy and nidicolous. Five families, one presented here. Family Apodidae, Swifts (18/99) Family Caprimulgidae, Nightjars (14/76)

Distribution.— Cosmopolitan except for high latitudes, Distribution.— Nearly worldwide, but absent from northerly Oceania, and New Zealand. latitudes, New Zealand and Oceania. Characteristics.— Small aerial birds with short necks, compact Characteristics.— (14–22 cm) Small, weak bill with very wide bodies, small feet, and long pointed wings. No rictal bristles pres- gape (so large that comissural point is below the eye). Rictal bris- ent (this is somewhat surprising considering the foraging method tles present. Large head and eyes. The skull is flattened dorsoven- of these birds). Small bill but large gape. Pamprodactyl feet trally. Long, pointed wings and medium to long tail. Small, weak (reversible hind toe). Long, curved claws. Stiffened rectrices. Stiff, feet with a pectinate middle claw. Powderdown feathers absent. dense feathers in front of and over eyes provide protection during

Birds of the World IV 25 Apodidae flight. Large salivary gland increases in size during the breeding directions. Very fast wingbeats; highly agile and acrobatic. Feed on season when saliva is used in nest construction. Plumage dirty gray nectar, small insects, and spiders. or black, sometimes with white or gray patches. Sexes similar in Breeding.— Usually 2 white eggs are laid in small cup nest made color. of plant fibers, lichen, and spider web. Female cares exclusively for Habits.— Highly gregarious aerial insectivores. Many species are the eggs and young. Incubation 14–21 days. Nidicolous young have migratory. Can walk on the ground only with great difficulty. Perch a trace of down at hatching. Males often perform elaborate aerial vertically on rock walls or tree trunks to roost, otherwise swifts fly courtship displays. almost exclusively. Notes.— The phylogeny of hummingbirds is very uncertain, so Breeding.— Colonial breeders that build their nests on the side of the current classification scheme is uncertain at best. Although a wall, cliff, chimney, or hollow tree using twigs glued together with they are clearly related to the swifts, recent DNA evidence suggests saliva. Both sexes build the nest, incubate the eggs, and feed the that swifts and hummingbirds be placed in their own separate young. Eggs 1–6, white. Incubation 16– 20 days. The young are orders. Juveniles have lengthwise grooves on the bill which disap- altricial and remain in nest for a long time, until they are able to fly pear with maturity. Hummingbirds beat their wings at 50–200 well. cycles/second. Some species go into a shallow torpor at night to Notes.— Chimney swifts gather nest material by breaking off tips conserve energy by lowering body temperature. The Cuban Bee of dead branches from the canopy while in flight. Spine-tailed is the smallest extant bird species: it is only 5 cm swifts of Asia have been clocked at over 150 m.p.h., which makes long and weights about the same as a dime. Many species are them the fastest flying birds. Palm swifts glue a sticky nest to a ver- important pollinators and have coevolved with certain flower tical palm leaf, then glues its 2 eggs to the nest. Some Asian swiftlets species. make nests entirely of saliva; these nests are harvested and used in Illinois species: soups. [ ] Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Illinois species: Common migrant and fairly common summer resident / [ ] Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) Common migrant Breeds [M70] and summer resident / Breeds [M69] Order Coliiformes, Colies Family Trochilidae, Hummingbirds (109/319) Contains a single family (Coliidae) restricted to Africa. See the family account for distribution and characteristics.

Family Coliidae, Colies (2/6)

Distribution.— New World only: southern Alaska and Canada south to southern South America. Characteristics.— Generally small to very small birds with long, narrow wings, slender bill (straight or curved), and usually Distribution.— Africa south of the Sahara Desert. colorful plumage, with metallic greens, reds, and blues. Most Habitat.— Open country, brushland, and forest edge. species are sexually dimorphic. Legs very short, feet small. Tail Characteristics.— 22–25 cm in length. Short legs with stout shape variable, but often ornamented with modified rectrices or feet; toes and claws are long; the rear and outer toes are reversible. intricate color patterns. Tongue long and divided into 2 thin tubes, Soft plumage; hairlike contour feathers on the body do not occur sometimes with a brushy tip. Humerus-furculum joint very nearly in tracts. Crested. Tail long; wings short and rounded; feet and legs a ball and socket joint which allows exceptional freedom of move- red; bill stout, decurved, and finch-like. Generally gray-brown with ment of the wings. Exceptionally well-developed carina and strong black and white markings. Sexually monomorphic. pectoralis muscles (25–30% of bird’s weight; the highest ratio Habitat.— Open woodland and savannas. among all birds). Weak voices. Habits.— Eat buds, berries, fruit, and insects. Gregarious. Habitat.— Various, but always associated with nectar-producing Acrobatic, sometimes hanging and even sleeping upside down. flowers. Climb through trees with the aid of the bill. Fly in short bursts but Habits.— Many species are migratory, especially to the north. not long distances. Hummingbirds are adept at hovering and can maneuver in all Breeding.— Eggs 2–4, placed in solitary, shallow nest. Both sexes incubate and care for altricial young. At a few days of age the young

26 eee 335 Coliidae creep out of the nest and climb around in the nest tree; they return each night until about day 20, at which time they fledge. Notes.— Phylogeny uncertain. May be related to parrots or toura- cos. Order Trogoniformes, Contains a single Pantropical family (Trogonidae). See the family account for distribution and characteristics.

Family Trogonidae, Trogons(6/39) Characteristics.— Medium to large size (30–140 cm). Long tail. Large, strong wings. Short legs. Enormous, long bill, often brightly colored and with a large casque on the upper mandible. Plumage usually black or brown with bold markings. Upper eyelid has long rigid eyelashes. Brightly colored skin patches on face and neck. Tomia serrate. Coverts very short, so air passing through base of primaries in flight sounds like an approaching train. Habitat.— Forest interior to savannas. Habits.— Nonmigratory. Noisy and conspicuous, these birds usu- ally occur in pairs or small groups. Omnivorous. Food is tossed into air before swallowed. Distribution.— Pantropical. Breeding.— Nest in tree cavities. The female is sealed into the Characteristics.— 20–30 cm in length. Most species are cavity by the construction of a mud wall over the entrance; she extremely colorful: male American and African trogons are metal- remains sealed in until the young are near fledging, while the male lic green above and scarlet, pink, or yellow below (the dorsum of all feeds the female and the young through a small hole in the seal. but one of the Asian species is dull brown); female are The female molts her primaries and rectrices (and is therefore mostly brownish and lack metallic colors. All have short, rounded flightless) while she is walled into the nest cavity. When the female wings and most have long broad, truncate tails marked with dis- finally leaves the cavity, she and young rebuild the wall. The female tinctive black and white patterns ventrally. Short legs and small, then helps the male to feed the young. Eggs 2–5, incubation 28–40 weak, heterodactyl feet (toes one and two directed backward); days. Many species form a lifelong pairbond. short, wide bill (serrate in New World species), often brightly col- Notes.— Some species breed cooperatively. ored with red, green, blue, and/or gold; thin skin; easily detached dense plumage; large eyes surrounded by a brightly colored bare Family Momotidae, Motmots (6/9) orbital ring. Habitat.— Rainforest, woodlands, and second growth. Habits.— Eat fruit, insects and other invertebrates, and occa- sional small vertebrates. Often sit motionless for extended periods, then suddenly dart out to grab an insect or piece of fruit. Generally solitary and remain high in the canopy. Breeding.— Nest in hollow trees or termite mounds. Eggs 2–4. Both sexes incubate and care for naked, nidicolous young. Notes.— Resplendent Quetzals have extremely elaborate plumage including very long upper tail coverts. The closest relatives of this order are unknown, but are thought to be related to some of the . Distribution.— Neotropical: Mexico south to northern Argentina. Order Coraciiformes, Kingfishers and Allies Characteristics.— 12–44 cm in length. Short, rounded wings Feet syndactyl; bill long; monogamous; nest in cavities. Young and long tail (usually racket-tipped). The long, strong bill is altricial and retain waxy sheaths on feathers until just before fledg- slightly decurved and sometimes serrate. Legs short. The claw of ing. Ten families, three presented here. the middle toe has an expanded inner edge. Long tongue. No down feathers. Soft, loose plumage colored pastel brown, green, and/or Family Bucerotidae, Hornbills (9/56) blue. Motmots often have a black mask around eye. Distribution.— Old World tropics: Africa south of the Sahara Habitat.— Tropical forest. Desert, southwest Arabia, southern Asia, Malaysia, and the Habits.— Usually solitary. Motmots sit for extended periods on Philippines to the Solomon Islands. low branches, irregularly wagging the tail from side to side, then

Birds of the World IV 27 Momotidae suddenly darting out to catch a flying insect. Will return to perch Subfamily Ramphastinae, Toucans (6/41) with prey to beat it to death on a branch before eating it. Breeding.— Eggs 3–4, white, incubated by both sexes. Apparently remain mated year- round. Notes.— Two birds may sing together, with one replying so immediately after the other that it sounds as if only one bird is singing.

Family Alcedinidae, Kingfishers (18/94)

Distribution.— Neotropical: Mexico south through Peru, Brazil, and northeastern Argentina. Characteristics.— Medium to large birds (26–52 cm), usually with bright and contrasting colors. Bare skin around eye. Short, rounded wings. Moderately long tail. Strong legs. The bill is large (longer than the head), brightly colored, and is serrate, decurved, and compressed. Young have heel pads. Bones underlying the beak are a honeycomb of stiff cellular fibers and are very sturdy but Distribution.— Worldwide except the poles and some oceanic exceptionally light. islands. Habitat.— Tropical forest. Characteristics.— Small to medium sized. Rounded wings. Habits.— Generally nonmigratory, but a few toucanets migrate Small, weak legs and feet. Big head, short neck, and long bill (bill altitudinally. Arboreal and gregarious, often found in small flocks. longer than head). Rudimentary tongue. Both young and adults Some roost in groups in cavities. Omnivorous. Very noisy, voices have down feathers. Most are colored in bright blue or green with are croaks and screams. Swallow food by tilting head back and let- contrasting patches of white or rufous. ting gravity push item toward throat. Habitat.— Various (many species found far from water): forest Breeding.— Nest in natural tree cavity or woodpecker hole, often interior, woodlands, desert, savannas, streams, lakeshores, man- high above the ground. Eggs 2–4. Both sexes incubate for 16–18 grove swamps, coastal marine, and oceanic islands. days. Habits.— Generally solitary. Some species hover and plunge-dive for fish. Many catch flying insects or even small mammals and Family Picidae, Woodpeckers (28/215) birds. Hop instead of walk. Loud, unmusical voice. Parents of pis- civorous species teach fledglings to fish by dropping dead prey items into the water for retrieval. Breeding.— Eggs 2–7, white, placed in a cavity excavated in a streambank, tree, or termite mound. Both sexes incubate for 18–24 days and feed young for 21–28 days. Illinois species: [ ] Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) Common migrant, uncommon summer and winter resident / Breeds [M71]

Order , Woodpeckers and Allies Distribution.— Worldwide except for the poles, New Zealand, All the Piciformes have zygodactyl feet and a distinctive arrange- Australia, Madagascar, and most islands. ment of the thigh muscles and tendons which control them. All are Characteristics.— Small to moderate in size (7–50 cm). Very cavity nesters that lay white eggs. Incubation is shared by both long tongue with barbs or bristles at the tip. The hyoid apparatus sexes. The young are nidicolous and altricial. Six families, two pre- extends back up over top of skull to the nostrils, allowing the sented here. tongue to be quickly extended far out of the mouth. The large, strong neck muscles and thick skull are for pounding. Family Ramphastidae, Toucans and New World The bill grows continuously against the forces wearing it down. Barbets (9/55) Many species have signal patches of read or yellow on the head or Small to large, heavy-billed tropical birds of the New World. The white on the rump. The rectrices are stiff and pointed, and the tail family Ramphastidae is divided into three subfamilies, only one of is wedge-shaped. The salivary glands secrete sticky substance to which follows. which insects stick. Woodpeckers have and undulating flight.

28 eee 335 Picidae

Habitat.— Found primarily in forests, but some species inhabit savannas and other open areas. Habits.— Climb up and down tree trunks by hopping and using the tail as a support. Generally solitary except when breeding. Some species breed cooperatively or migrate in flocks. Eat insects, including wood boring larvae and ants. Will also eat grains and fruit. Advertise territorial boundaries by drumming a loud series of taps on a dead limb. When disturbed will often simply hitch around to back side of the tree rather than flying away. Sapsuckers drill parallel horizontal rows of holes in trees, then return to lap the sap and insects stuck in the sap. Flickers forage on ground for ants. Breeding.— Both sexes excavate nest, incubate eggs, and rear young. Eggs 2–7. Nestlings secrete feces in sacs which can be easily removed by the adults. Illinois species: [ ] Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) Common migrant, winter (S) and summer resident / Breeds [M72]

[ ] Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) Common resident / Breeds [M73]

[ ] Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) Common migrant, fairly common winter resident (S), rare sum- mer resident / Breeds [M74]

[ ] Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) Common resi- dent / Breeds [M75]

[ ] Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) Fairly common resident / Breeds [M76]

[ ] Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) Common migrant, winter resident (S), and summer resident / Breeds [M77]

[ ] Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) Uncommon resident, restricted to fairly large forest tracts/ Breeds [M78]

Birds of the World IV 29