Alcedinidae

The alcédinidés (or Alcedinidae ) form one of Oiseau X more known under the name of martins-fishermen and martins-hunters.

They are compact birds of small size to average (10 to 46 cm), with the Bec right and length, in form of Poignard. Their Patte S is short, and they carry a plumage to the bright colors.

Cosmopolitans, they attend especially the Forêt S and the wooded areas, often close to the Eau; some S live in raised areas far away from water, and another species in the deserted with undergrowth.

Definition and systematic position

The alcédinidés are subdivided into three S temporarily regarded as families separated in the Taxinomie Sibley-Ahlquist:

  • halcyoninés ;
  • alcédininés ;
  • cérylinés .

Alphabetical list of the kinds

  • Actenoides Bonaparte, 1850
  • Alcedo Linnaeus, 1758
  • Caridonax Cabanis & Heine, 1860
  • Ceryle Drinks, 1828
  • Ceyx Lacepede, 1799
  • Chloroceryle Kaup, 1848
  • Cittura Kaup, 1848
  • Clytoceyx Sharpe, 1880
  • Dacelo Leach, 1815
  • Halcyon Swainson, 1821
  • Ispidina Kaup, 1848 (see Ceyx )
  • Lacedo Reichenbach, 1851
  • Megaceryle Kaup, 1848
  • Melidora Lesson, 1830
  • Pelargopsis Gloger, 1841
  • Syma Lesson, 1827
  • Tanysiptera Vigors, 1825
  • Todirhamphus Lesson, 1827

At the Old ones: the alcyon

See also: Alcyon

Definition

At the Old ones, bird whose meeting passed for one predicts of calm and peace, because it makes its nest during the “alcyoniens days”, i.e. seven days before and seven days after the winter solstice, during which the sea is calm. This word of Greek origin is for the first time at the writing in 1265.

Etymology (Littré)

“Terms Greek, one derives from that which means the sea (for the reports/ratios of this word, voy. SALT), and the other is translated by which makes its small, of the Greek verb to make the small ones, because the alcyon makes its nest on the sea. Mr. Benfey, II, 165, attach the last part of the word at the end Greek meaning dog (voy. DOG). Because of the etymology some write in Latin Halcyon and Halcyone. ”

“Fabulous” bird?

The definition of the works of French language always starts with “fabulous bird”, which is inaccurate, because let us alcyons them, that one knows better under the name Martin-pêcheur, exist well. Only the dictionaries of English language establish the link with kingfisher (“kingfisher”) in their definition, which is the commonly-used term. This is why one avoids turnings of the kind mythical bird (“fabulous bird”). It however does not seem that this error in French was always made, because the Littré, the Dictionnaire of the Academy (1762) and the Furetière describe the alcyon as a bird which exists indeed. Since the dictionaries of French language and English language describe the marvellous capacities of this bird only in the heading alcyon ( halcyon ), one will preferably use this term with very other to stress on top.

“One calls the Alcyoniens days, those during which Alcyons make their nest, which is towards the solstice of hyver. ” (Furetière)

Internal bonds

External bonds

Random links:Jean-Marc Barr | (383) Janina | Unicameralism | Azeri cinema | Zoroastriens in Iran | Samoan literature | Masselotte_(exposition_de_jeu_des_USA)