Picidae in the European fossil, subfossil and recent bird faunas and their osteological characteristics

Abstract

This paper presents the European fossil, subfossil and recent representatives of the Picidae family. Following the list of fossil and subfossil remains, the author analyzes and presents images of the osteological characteristics of the order’s 10 recent European species. Skeletal parts that are usually present both in the fossil and subfossil material were examined (mandibula, coracoideum, scapula, humerus, ulna, metacarpus, the first phalanx of the second finger of the wing, femur, tibiotarsus, tarsometatarsus and distal phalanx). The text is complemented with the bibliography concerning the fossilized material, tables and figures and a size chart.