Podotheca

Unlike the sheath of the bill, the podotheca is never simple and continuous, being divided and subdivided in various ways.

The character of the tarsal podotheca is a useful generic character but too variable to use in delimiting the subfamilies .

In different kinds of birds, the podotheca begins on the tibiotarsus (shank), on the ankle, or at some more distal level; it extends to the tips of the toes.