General form short, thick, and robust; bill usually long, sharp, and
adapted to striking and seizing their prey, which, in the greater part
of the species, consists of fishes; wings generally long, and adapted to
quick though not long-continued flight; tail usually short; legs short,
frequently very strong; toes long, frequently partially joined together
and flattened on the soles.
Of this extensive family, species are distributed throughout all the
temperate and tropical regions of the world, though much more abundant
in the latter. Many species habitually frequent the vicinity of the
water, and subsist on fishes and small aquatic animals of other classes,
but there are birds of this family that are found in the recesses of
forests and other comparatively dry localities.
Two species only of King-Fishers have as yet been discovered in the
United States.