heterodactylous

or het·er·o·dac·tyl

[ het-uh-roh-dak-tuh-luh s or het-uh-roh-dak-til ]
/ ˌhɛt ə roʊˈdæk tə ləs or ˌhɛt ə roʊˈdæk tɪl /

adjective Ornithology.

having the first and fourth toes directed backward, and the second and third forward, as in trogons.

Origin of heterodactylous

First recorded in 1850–55; hetero- + -dactylous

British Dictionary definitions for heterodactyl

heterodactyl
/ (ˌhɛtərəʊˈdæktɪl) /

adjective

(of the feet of certain birds) having the first and second toes directed backwards and the third and fourth forwards

noun

a bird with heterodactyl feet
Compare zygodactyl