Clades within the 'higher land birds', evaluated bg nuclear DNA sequences

h In this study we investigated the phylogenetic relationships within the ' higher land birds' by parsimony analysis of nucleotide DNA sequences obtain ed from the two nuclear, protein-coding genes, c-myc and RAG-I. Nuclear gen es have not previously been used to address this phylogenetic question. The results include high jackknife support for a monophyletic Apodiformes (inc luding the Trochilidae). This arrangement was further supported by the obse rvation of an insertion of four amino acids in the c-myc gene in all apodif orm taxa. Monophyly was also inferred for each of the two piciform groups G albulae and Pici. Within Pici, the Capitonidae was found to be paraphyletic , with the New World barbers more closely related to the Ramphastidae than to the Old World barbers. Another clade with high jackknife support consist s of the Upupidae, Phoeniculidae and Bucerotidae. The families Momotidae an d Todidae, and Coraciidae and Brachypteraciidae, respectively, also form we ll supported monophyletic clades. The results are inconclusive regarding th e monophyly of the orders Coraciiformes and Piciformes, respectively.