Halcyon (genus)

Halcyon (genus)

Taxobox
name = "Halcyon"


image_caption = Woodland Kingfisher
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Coraciiformes
familia = Halcyonidae
genus = "Halcyon"
genus_authority = Swainson, 1821
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "H. cinnamomina"
"H. coromanda"
"H. badia"
"H. smyrnensis"
"H. leucocephala"
"H. pileata"
"H. cyanoventris"
"H. senegalensis"
"H. senegaloides"
"H. malimbica"
"H. albiventris"
"H. chelicuti"

"Halcyon" is a genus of the tree kingfishers, near passerine birds in the family Halcyonidae.

The following is the list of species:

* Micronesian Kingfisher, "Halcyon cinnamomina"
* Ruddy Kingfisher, "Halcyon coromanda"
* Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, "Halcyon badia"
* White-throated Kingfisher, "Halcyon smyrnensis"
* Grey-headed Kingfisher, "Halcyon leucocephala"
* Black-capped Kingfisher, "Halcyon pileata"
* Javan Kingfisher, "Halcyon cyanoventris"
* Woodland Kingfisher, "Halcyon senegalensis"
* Mangrove Kingfisher, "Halcyon senegaloides"
* Blue-breasted Kingfisher, "Halcyon malimbica"
* Brown-hooded Kingfisher, "Halcyon albiventris"
* Striped Kingfisher, "Halcyon chelicuti"

However, other sources, including Fry & Fry, lump the genera "Pelargopsis", "Syma" and "Todirhamphus" into "Halcyon" to make a much larger grouping.

The genus "Halcyon" in the current sense consists mainly of species resident in sub-Saharan Africa, with a couple of representatives in southern Asia, one of which, the White-throated Kingfisher, occasionally reaches Europe. White-throated and Ruddy Kingfishers are at least partially migratory.

"Halcyon" kingfishers are mostly large birds with heavy bills. They occur in a variety of habitats, with woodland of various types the preferred environment for most. They are “sit and wait” predators of small ground animals including large insects, rodents, snakes, and frogs, but some will also take fish.

"Halcyon" is a name for a bird in Greek legend generally associated with the kingfisher. There was an ancient belief that the bird nested on the sea, which it calmed in order to lay its eggs on a floating nest. Two weeks of calm weather were therefore expected around the winter solstice. This myth leads to the use of halcyon as a term for peace or calmness. cite web|title=Halcyon days |work=The Phrase finder |url= http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/168000.html |publisher= |accessdate=2008-01-11]

References

* Fry, K & Fry, H.C. (2000): "Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers". ISBN 0-691-08780-6.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Halcyon — (IPAEng|ˈhælsiən), a term that originates from the Greek myth of Alcyone, is used most often to mean golden or marked by peace and prosperity. Halcyon may refer to:Birds * Halcyon (genus), a type of bird * Tree kingfisher, a family of birds… …   Wikipedia

  • Halcyon — Hal cy*on (h[a^]l s[i^]*[o^]n), n. [L. halcyon, alcyon, Gr. alkyw n, alkyw n: cf. F. halcyon.] (Zo[ o]l.) A kingfisher. By modern ornithologists restricted to a genus including a limited number of species having omnivorous habits, as the sacred… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Halcyon sancta — Halcyon Hal cy*on (h[a^]l s[i^]*[o^]n), n. [L. halcyon, alcyon, Gr. alkyw n, alkyw n: cf. F. halcyon.] (Zo[ o]l.) A kingfisher. By modern ornithologists restricted to a genus including a limited number of species having omnivorous habits, as the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • halcyon — [hal′sē ən] n. [ME alcioun < L alcyon < Gr alkyōn, kingfisher, altered by folk etym. after Gr hals, sea] 1. a legendary bird, identified with the kingfisher, which is supposed to have a peaceful, calming influence on the sea at the time of… …   English World dictionary

  • Halcyon (Chicane song) — Single infobox | Name = Halcyon Artist = Chicane from Album = Behind the Sun Released = July 7, 2000 Format = 12 , cassette, CD Recorded = ??? Genre = Trance Length = 9:02 Label = Xtravaganza Recordings Producer = Nick Bracegirdle Sven Maes,… …   Wikipedia

  • halcyon — /hal see euhn/, adj. Also, halcyonian /hal see oh nee euhn/, halcyonic /hal see on ik/. 1. calm; peaceful; tranquil: halcyon weather. 2. rich; wealthy; prosperous: halcyon times of peace. 3. happy; joyful; carefree: halcyon days of youth. 4. of… …   Universalium

  • halcyon — hal•cy•on [[t]ˈhæl si ən[/t]] adj. 1) calm; peaceful; tranquil: halcyon weather[/ex] 2) prosperous: halcyon years[/ex] 3) happy; joyful; carefree: halcyon days of youth[/ex] 4) of or pertaining to the halcyon or kingfisher 5) myt a bird of… …   From formal English to slang

  • genus Halcyon — noun a large kingfisher widely distributed in warmer parts of the Old World • Syn: ↑Halcyon • Hypernyms: ↑bird genus • Member Holonyms: ↑Alcedinidae, ↑family Alcedinidae …   Useful english dictionary

  • Halcyon Horseshoe Bat — Taxobox name = Halcyon Horseshoe Bat status = LC | status system = IUCN3.1 regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Mammalia ordo = Chiroptera familia = Rhinolophidae genus = Rhinolophus species = R. alcyone binomial = Rhinolophus alcyone… …   Wikipedia

  • halcyon — [ halsɪən, ʃ(ə)n] adjective denoting a past time regarded as idyllically happy and peaceful: the halcyon days of the mid 1980s. noun 1》 a mythical bird said to breed in a nest floating at sea, charming the wind and waves into calm. 2》 a tropical… …   English new terms dictionary

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