About Woodpeckers and Allies

Overview

Piciformes are a large order of 444 species including the woodpeckers, barbets, toucans, honeyguides and jacamars, found chiefly in forests worldwide, except Australasia and Antarctica. Woodpeckers are ecosystem engineers, chiselling nest and forage holes with specialised skulls and zygodactyl feet; toucans are frugivorous icons of the Neotropics. Many are vital for forest dynamics.

Classification

The order Woodpeckers and Allies (Latin: PICIFORMES) comprises 9 families and roughly 444 living species. It is one of 44 orders that make up the class Aves.

Diversity & Distribution

Piciformes are a large order of 444 species including the woodpeckers, barbets, toucans, honeyguides and jacamars, found chiefly in forests worldwide, except Australasia and Antarctica.

Notable Families

Woodpeckers, African Barbets, Toucans, Puffbirds, Asian Barbets, Jacamars and others.