What is "coraciiformes"

Coraciiformes \Coraciiformes\ n. (Zo["o]l.) an order of birds including the rollers; kingfishers; hornbills; hoopoes; motmots; bee-eaters; todies.

Syn: order Coraciiformes.

The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colorful birds including the kingfishers, the bee-eaters, the rollers, the motmots, and the todies. They generally have syndactyly, with three forward-pointing toes (and toes 3 & 4 fused at their base), though in many kingfishers one of these is missing.

This is largely an Old World order, with the representation in the New World limited to the dozen or so species of todies and motmots, and a mere handful of the more than 90 species of kingfishers.

The name Coraciiformes means " raven-like", which is a misnomer (ravens are passerines). Specifically, it comes from the Latin language "corax", meaning "raven" and Latin "forma", meaning "form", which is the standard ending for bird orders. [Terres p 104]