Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which coraciiform fossils have been found in Europe?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

yellow-billed hornbill — Coraciiform Yellow-billed hornbill (*Tockus leucomelas*).

Fossil evidence of coraciiform birds in Europe is limited, consisting of remains from several distinct groups discovered across different geological epochs. These findings include:1

Hornbills: Remains have been identified from the Eocene (approximately 50 million years ago) and the Miocene (approximately 15 million years ago).1
Rollers: A fossil specimen dating to the late Eocene (approximately 38 million years ago) has been found.1
Kingfishers: A fossil from the early Oligocene has been documented.1
Wood hoopoes: A possible fossil representative has been identified from the Miocene.1

Additionally, fossil taxa belonging to the groups that include motmots and todies—which are now primarily found in the New World—have also been discovered in Europe, indicating that these groups were once more widespread.1