Piciformes

Piciformes is an order of perching birds that encompasses a diverse array of species, including woodpeckers and piculets (Picidae), barbets and honeyguides (Capitonidae/Indicatoridae), toucans and aracaris (Ramphastidae), and jacamars and puffbirds (Galbulidae and Bucconidae). They are distributed across most continents, with the greatest species richness in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Habitats range from dense forests to woodlands, savannas, and occasionally urban areas.

A common feature of Piciformes is their zygodactyl feet, with two toes facing forward and two backward, which aids climbing and gripping vertical surfaces. Their bills are often stout and specialized for their foraging strategies, ranging from the chisels and barbed tongues of woodpeckers to the fruit-rich beaks of toucans and the wax-eating habits of some honeyguides. Diets vary widely within the group and can include insects, fruits, seeds, and, in the case of certain honeyguides, wax.

Ecology and behavior vary by lineage. Many woodpeckers excavate nest cavities in dead wood, a behavior shared by several other Piciformes that nest in holes. Some taxa, such as honeyguides, are brood parasites, laying eggs in the nests of other birds. Communication commonly includes drumming on wood in woodpeckers and a range of vocalizations in other lineages. Social structure is often pair-based or solitary, though some species form small foraging groups or family flocks.

Systematics and conservation status reflect ongoing scientific study. The order comprises several families and numerous genera, with molecular data continuing to refine relationships among groups. Habitat loss and degradation, particularly of forests, threaten many Piciformes species, while others remain widespread and of least concern.