River kingfishers

Taxobox
name = River kingfishers


image_width = 230px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Coraciiformes
familia = Alcedinidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Alcedo"
"Ceyx"
"Ispidina"The river kingfishers or Alcedinidae, are one of the three families of bird in the kingfisher group.

The family is widespread through Africa, through east and south Asia as far as Australia, with one species, the River Kingfisher or European Kingfisher ("Alcedo atthis") also appearing in Europe and northern Asia. The origin of the family is thought to have been in Asia.

The taxonomy of the family is uncertain at present: it includes 22 to 24 species in 2 to 4 genera. The uncertainty arises from two small African species. The Dwarf Kingfisher is sometimes placed in the monospecific genus "Myioceyx", and sometimes with the Pygmy Kingfishers in "Ispidina". However, molecular analysis suggests that the Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher is most closely related to the Malachite Kingfisher, and that the present arrangement into "Alcedo" and "Ceyx" needs to be reviewed as it seems not to reflect the actual relationships (for example, the Azure Kingfisher is closer to "Ceyx erithacus").Moyle, Robert G. (2006): " [http://www.highbeam.com/library/docfree.asp?DOCID=1Y1:93480914&ctrlInfo=Round20%3AMode20a%3ADocG%3AResult&ao=A Molecular Phylogeny of Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) With Insights into Early Biogeographic History.] " "Auk" 123(2): 487–499.]

References

External links

* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/familia.phtml?idFamilia=88 Kingfisher videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.xeno-canto.org/browse.php?query=alcedinidae Kingfisher sounds] in the xeno-canto collection