Abstract
SummaryConclusions from a study of plumages, geographical distribution, and available anatomical and biological characters, are that the family Alcedinidae arose in Malesia, and that the 18 Afrotropical kingfishers are the product of 8–11 separate invasions from Malesia, one via America. Halcyon badia and the H. leucocephala species‐group (doubtfully including H. chelicuti) represent separate invasions by Asian ‘Entomobia’, and the H. malimbica species‐group may represent a third such influx (alternatively, all of these Halcyons are the product of one single ancient dacelonine colonization of Africa, and have then extended twice into Asia). H. chloris arrived independently and recently, from Oriental littoral stock. Ceyx madagascariensis colonized Madagascar from Malesia by trans‐oceanic flight; the Ceyx lecontei species‐group is the product of invasion by Oriental C. erithacus forebears, and the Corythornis cristata superspecies probably arose separately from Oriental stock closely‐reiated with the Ceyx lecontei progenitor. Alcedo quadribrachys arose quite recently from ancestral Oriental A. meninting, and A. semitorquata originated even more recently from the tropical‐temperate A. at this. The origin of Ceryle rudis is obscure but may be Oriental; and Megaceryle maxima appears to have originated in the Americas.
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