Famili unggas Picidae mencakup Burung pelatuk, Tukik dan geliang-ular Anggota familia ini dapat detemukan di seluruh dunia, kecuali Australia, Madagaskar, dan wilayah kutub yang beriklim ekstrem. Kebanyakan spesies ini hidup di hutan atau habitat Tanah kayu, meskipun sedikit spesies yang diketahui hidup di area gurun.
Picidae adalah salah satu dari delapan familia dalam ordo Piciformes. Anggota dalam ordo Piciformes mencakup, seperti Cirik-Cirik, puffbirds, Takur, Tukan dan Burung pemandu lebah, sudah secara tradisional berkerabat dengan pelatuk, piculet dan wrynecks. Molekuler yang saat ini dipelajari telah memperkuat pandangan ini.
Referensi
Benz, Brett W.; Robbins, Mark B. & Peterson, A. Townsend (2006): Evolutionary history of woodpeckers and allies (Aves: Picidae): Placing key taxa on the phylogenetic tree. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution40: 389 – 399. DOI 10.1016/j.ympev.2006.02.021}}
Cracraft, Joel & Morony, John J. Jr. (1969): A new Pliocene woodpecker, with comments on the fossil Picidae. American Museum Novitates2400: 1-8. PDF fulltext
Johansson, U. S. & Ericson, G. P. (2003): Molecular support for a sister group relationship between Pici and Galbulae (Piciformes sensu Wetmore 1960). Journal of Avian Biology34: 185-197. PDF fulltext
Koenig, W. D. & Haydock, J. (1999): Oaks, acorns, and the geographical ecology of acorn woodpeckers. J. Biogeogr.26(1): 159-165. DOI 10.1046/j.1365-2699.1999.00256.x}} (HTML abstract)
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Moore, William S.; Weibel, Amy C. & Agius, Andrea (2006): Mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of the woodpecker genus Veniliornis (Picidae, Picinae) and related genera implies convergent evolution of plumage patterns. Biol. J. Linn. Soc.87: 611 – 624. PDF fulltextDiarsipkan 2011-09-29 di Wayback Machine.
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Villard, P.; Cuisin, J. & Karasov, W. H. (2004). How do woodpeckers extract grubs with their tongues? A study of the Guadeloupe woodpecker (Melanerpes herminieri) in the French Indies. Auk121: 509-514. DOI:10.1642/0004-8038(2004)121[0509:HDWEGW]2.0.CO;2 HTML abstract
Webb, Daniel Matthew & Moore, William S. (2005): A phylogenetic analysis of woodpeckers and their allies using 12S, Cyt b, and COI nucleotide sequences (class Aves; order Piciformes). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution36: 233-248. PDF fulltextDiarsipkan 2012-02-24 di Wayback Machine.
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Wiktander, U.; Olsson, O. & Nilsson, S.F. (2000) Parental care and social mating system in the lesser spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos minor. Journal of Avian Biology31(4): 447. Pengidentifikasi Objek Digital 10.1034/j.1600-048X.2000.310003.x}} (HTML abstract)
