Opis

Small and medium-sized birds living mostly in reed beds and swamps covered with dense vegetation; they are characterized by a very narrow sternum and pelvis that make the body flattened mediolaterally (Mayr 2009); this construction enables efficient and noiseless squeezing through the thicket of vegetation; also characteristic elongated toes that allow you to walk on water vegetation and climb reeds (only one species - Himantornis haematopus from the tropical forests of Africa does not have this feature); in some species, toes are additionally provided with skin flaps that enable swimming (as in Fulica coots).

Synonimy

Zasięg czasowy

Literatura