Grey-headed kingfisher (Pseudhalycyon pallidiventris to Halcyon leucocephala) is found locally and commonly in eastern and central Africa. This is found as far south as Namibia and Mozambique and NE South Africa. This small 8 inch kingfisher has a pale head and neck. The upper back is black and the wings and tail show light blue. The adult has an orange lower breast.

There are 5 subspecies for this widespread African kingfisher. The nominate form, Halcyon leucocephala leucocephala, is found in a band across northern and central African from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to northern Zaire and northern Tanzania. The subspecies acteon is found on the Cape Verde Islands. The subspecies semicaerulea is found locally in Yemen. The subspecies hyacinthina is found from southern Somalia to north eastern Tanzania. The subspecies pallidiventris is found from southern Zaire east to western Tanzania, northern Namibia and south to Transvaal.

The Halcyonidae group of kingfishers (Family Halcyonidae) is found in Africa (sparingly)and primarily in southern Asia and the Indo-Australian region. There are also a large number of recognized species found in Oceana which is loosely defined as the area from New Guinea east to Polynesia including the Solomons, Guam, Bismarck, and many other islands.

Kingfishers (Family Alcedinidae) are a family of 84 species of birds that are found virtually worldwide. They generally have long bills. Many species dive into the water for their food. (Modern authors divide this family into three families: Alcedinidae, Halyconidae, and Cerylidae.)

Hornbills, rollers, and kingfishers (Order Coraciformes) are characterized by having their three front toes joined for a portion of their length. There are seven families in this order.

Aves contains about 8,650 different species of living birds known to science. Each year about one new species is discovered in some remote rain forest or remote island. In addition, scientists have been raising many subspecies to full species status which may raise the species count to 10,000. Birdlife recognizes 10,027 species as of 2011.

However, each year about one species goes extinct. The rate of extinction is increasing, and the rate of new discovery is decreasing, so that the number of bird species will soon begin to decline rapidly. Although different taxonomists would organize the birds differently, there are approximately twenty-seven orders of birds. These orders are broken down into about one hundred and fifty-five different families.

Recent research of the genetic structure of some of the shore birds and owls would indicate that the present organization of orders and families should have some modification.

The birds are a worldwide group of animals that are characterized by having the front limbs modified into wings that are used for flying. Perhaps the most unique feature of the birds is the feathers. These feathers are made up of a central support called a quill and a series of small filaments that are hooked together as barbs.

For many years it was believed that Archaeopteryx discovered in Bavaria was the oldest bird from about 150 million years ago. However, in l986, Sankar Chattterjee, a Texas paleontologist, reportedly discovered a bird in the genus Protoavis that lived about 225 million years ago.

When this project was begun in 1978, we used Austin & Singer for bird taxonomy. Since then, we have adopted many changes, but have kept some older concepts that are still found widely in the literature. Recently, we have used Clements and Howard & Moore. Very recently, we have used Monroe and Sibley for the higher taxonomy of the perching birds.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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