Woodpecker, Kingfisher, and their Feet
The scansorial (adapted or specialized for climbing) foot of the woodpecker are an example of a zygodactyl configuration. The widely-spaced toes and strong claws help it stay securely attached to the tree that it’s foraging on.
In the kingfisher, you can also see specialized feet. Their syndactyl configuration helps give them additional support for hours of perching in one spot. Unlike the “perching” birds, the kingfishers don’t move around much when they’re scanning for food, and need to expend as little energy as possible staying securely on the perch they’ve chosen. Their short legs and sturdy conjoined toes help with that.
On the Anatomy of Vertebrates. Vol II: Birds and Mammals. Richard Owen, 1866.
Wildlife of the World. Vol I. Richard Lydekker, 1915.
