kingfisher's feet

[Ken Kinman]

Kingfisher's have syndactyl feet which are very good for perching.  I don't think they wade or even walk very much at all.  And the feet aren't really raptorial either, since it is their bill that is adapted for prey capture.  In some kingfishers, one of the toes is vestigial, and that certainly wouldn't be very helpful in walking, wading, or raptorial uses.  Whether the so-called "two-toed" kingfishers are better perchers, I'm not sure, but if one toe can do the job of two fused toes, it is not surprising evolution would eliminate the shorter one.
  ---Cheers,
          Ken Kinman