Order GALBULIFORMES *
Family GALBULIDAE (Jacamars) *
Family BUCCONIDAE (Puffbirds) ***
Order PICIFORMES Family CAPITONIDAE (Barbets) *
Family RAMPHASTIDAE (Toucans) *
Family INDICATORIDAE (Honeyguides) *
Family PICIDAE (Woodpeckers) *
Volume 7 of the Handbook of the Birds of the World, Jacamars to Woodpeckers, covers six bird families, including jacamars, puffbirds, toucans, barbets, honeyguides, and woodpeckers. This volume features 70 color plates, 317 photographs, 408 distribution maps, and around 4,000 bibliographical references. The foreword by Errol Fuller focuses on extinct birds, providing a detailed study of species that have disappeared since 1600. It also highlights conservation efforts, with special attention to restricted-range species and critical habitats.
This is the final volume dedicated to non-passerine birds, covering six fascinating bird families. This volume explores species from both the Neotropical and pantropical regions, making it an invaluable resource for those interested in birds from these diverse ecosystems.
Three of the families covered—jacamars, puffbirds, and toucans—are native to the Neotropics, while the remaining three, barbets, honeyguides, and woodpeckers, have wider distributions, with woodpeckers being the most diverse group, comprising 216 species with a nearly global presence. This volume is particularly significant for birdwatchers and researchers with an interest in woodpeckers, one of the most widely studied and widely distributed bird families.
The volume opens with an insightful a foreword by Errol Fuller on extinct birds, which includes meticulously researched accounts and illustrations of bird species that have vanished since 1600. Fuller’s contribution adds a poignant historical dimension to the volume, exploring the reasons for extinction and illustrating the fate of species like the Great Auk and Dodo.
The species accounts provide exhaustive information, including morphology, habitat, feeding behavior, breeding, and conservation status. The text is complemented by vivid photographs and detailed illustrations, providing a comprehensive view of some of the most striking bird species in the world. The imagery captures the vibrant colors of toucans, the cryptic plumage of the Eurasian Wryneck, and even the mystery surrounding the elusive Ivory-billed Woodpecker, whose potential rediscovery has sparked debate among ornithologists.
This volume also continues the series’ focus on conservation, with special attention to restricted-range species and the critical habitats where they are found. It also includes updated information on the status of species that are globally threatened.
| Order GALBULIFORMES | |
| Family Galbulidae (Jacamars) | J. Tobias, T. Züchner & Tadeu Artur de Melo Júnior |
| Family Bucconidae (Puffbirds) | P. Rasmussen & N. Collar |
| Order PICIFORMES | |
| Family Capitonidae (Barbets) | J. Horne & L. Short |
| Family Ramphastidae (Toucans) | L. Short & J. Horne |
| Family Indicatoridae (Honeyguides) | L. Short & J. Horne |
| Family Picidae (Woodpeckers) | H. Winkler & D. Christie |
Key Features:
- 70 colour plates and 317 photographs showcasing birds in their natural environments, many species rarely seen in photographs.
- 408 distribution maps.
- Approximately 4,000 bibliographical references.
With its wealth of information and stunning visual content, Volume 7 is an essential reference for anyone interested in the rich diversity of non-passerine birds, from the vibrant toucans of South America to the industrious woodpeckers found worldwide.
