order Piciformes

9.9

A group of related birds like woodpeckers and toucans

noun
/ˈɔrdər ˈpɪkɪfɔrmiːz/

Specialized

: orden Piciformes

The order Piciformes comprises about 400 species, including the familiar woodpecker.

Examples

Toucans and honeyguides both belong to the order Piciformes, despite their different appearances.
The order Piciformes includes various species of woodpeckers.
Researchers have discovered new species within the order Piciformes in South America.
Many birds in the order Piciformes have unique feeding habits.
Researchers have discovered new species within the order Piciformes in South America.
The order Piciformes comprises about 400 species, including the familiar woodpecker.
Toucans and honeyguides both belong to the order Piciformes, despite their different appearances.

Synonyms

Piciformes

vsorder Piciformes

Specialized

9.9

A group of birds that includes woodpeckers and toucans

uses a rank word before the name to show the taxonomic order

Surface Forms

order Piciformes singular

order Piciformes plural

Morphology

order + Piciformes

The phrase is a straightforward compositional combination of the noun 'order' (a taxonomic grouping) with the taxon name 'Piciformes', so its meaning — the taxonomic order called Piciformes — is directly derivable from the parts. Taxonomic naming patterns (category + name) are cross-linguistically common, so a learner who knows both constituents will understand the MWE.

Etymology

Order Piciformes comes from Latin words Picus meaning 'woodpecker' and -formes meaning 'shape' or 'form'. So the name paints a picture of 'woodpecker-shaped' birds, which helps explain why woodpeckers and their close relatives like toucans and barbets are placed in this group.