Order Coraciiformes / Kingfishers, Rollers, and Bee-eaters

The word Coraciiformes originates from the Latin language which means “Raven-Like” (i.e., Coracii – Raven & formes – form). Ironically, the ravens belong to another bird class passerines.

There are 6 direct families in order Coraciiformes:

• Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
• Brachypteraciidae (Ground Rollers)
• Coraciidae (Rollers)
• Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
• Momotidae (Motmots)
• Todidae (Todies)

Here are the common characteristics of birds in Coraciiformes:

• These colorful birds in this order include the kingfishers, the bee-eaters, the rollers, the motmots, and the todies.
• Most of the birds in this order have the front three toes fused at the base. This phenomenon is called Syndactyly.
• The legs of Coraciiformes are short, and the feet are weak.
• One of the typical features of this order is a long and large bill.
• Most Coraciiformes have a large head as well.
• The neck in coraciiform birds is usually short.
• Most of the species spend a significant part of their life on trees.
• Coraciiformes are spread out in all parts of the world except the cold regions such as Antarctica, Greenland or Russia.
• Most species in this order display bright, patterned plumage, placing them among some of the most colorful birds in their respective habitats.

Here are some of the examples of the birds that belong to this order:

• Abyssinian roller, Coracias abyssinicus
• Purple dollarbirds
• Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon
• Black-faced kingfisher
• Rosy bee-eater, Merops malimbicus
• Madagascar bee-eater
• Tody mormot
• Russet-crowned Motmot (from Mexican birds list)
• Broad-billed tody, Todus subulatus
• Puerto Rican tody, Todus mexicanus
• Crested Kingfisher, Todus mexicanus