Forest kingfisher

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Forest kingfisher
Todiramphus macleayii - Daintree Village.jpg
Daintree Village, Queensland, Australia
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Subfamily: Halcyoninae
Genus: Todiramphus
Species:
T. macleayii
Binomial name
Todiramphus macleayii
(Jardine & Selby, 1830)
Subspecies [2]
  • T. m. elisabeth – (Heine, 1883)
  • T. m. macleayii – (Jardine & Selby, 1830)
  • T. m. incinctus – (Gould, 1838)
Synonyms

Halcyon macleayii

The forest kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii), also known as Macleay's or the blue kingfisher, is a species of kingfisher in the subfamily Halcyoninae, also known as tree kingfishers. It is a predominantly blue and white bird. It is found in Indonesia, New Guinea and coastal eastern and Northern Australia. Like many other kingfishers, it hunts invertebrates, small frogs, and lizards.

Contents

Taxonomy

The forest kingfisher was first described by the naturalists Sir William Jardine and Prideaux John Selby in 1830. It was known for many years by its old scientific name of Halcyon macleayi before being transferred to the genus Todiramphus . The generic name is derived from the genus Todus (Brisson, 1760), 'tody' (a West Indian insectivorous bird) and Ancient Greek rhamphos, 'bill'. [3] The specific epithet honours the Scottish entomologist and Colonial Secretary to New South Wales Alexander Macleay (1767–1848). [3]

Three subspecies are recognised:

Description

The forest kingfisher measures 21.5–25.5 cm (8.5–10.0 in) in length and the male weighs 32–43 g (1.1–1.5 oz) while the female weighs 29–44 g (1.0–1.6 oz). [5] It has blue wings, head and tail with white breast, abdomen and nape. It has a white patch in front of the eyes and a black band stretching from the bill, through the eyes to the ear coverts. A white patch is visible on the wings in flight. The female is distinguished by a blue rather than white nape. [6] The iris is dark brown and the legs and feet dark grey. Immature birds are duller with a blackish crown. The call is a shrill t-reek, repeated regularly, most often in the early morning. [7]

Distribution and habitat

The forest kingfisher is native to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Australia, where it is found on or near the Australian coastline from Port Stephens in New South Wales northwards to Cape York and westwards across the Top End. It is a summer visitor in the southern parts of its range in New South Wales and southern Queensland; elsewhere it is resident all year round. [7] [8]

As its name suggests, it inhabits subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical or tropical mangrove forest and Melaleuca swampland. [7]

Behaviour

Feeding

The forest kingfisher hunts invertebrates, such as bugs, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, dragonflies, cicadas, ants, adult and larval butterflies, and worms, as well as small fish, frogs and tadpoles, lizards, and snakes. [5] The forest kingfisher watches from a high perch, dives to the ground or water to seize its prey (sally-pouncing), then returns directly to the perch. [5] It often kills prey by hitting it against a branch after seizing it. [9]

Breeding

Breeding season is August to February in Australia with often two broods raised. [10] The nest is a short burrow into a round chamber within an arboreal termite nest, around 4–12 m (13–39 ft) above the ground. [5] Three to six (usually 4 or 5) white shiny eggs are laid, measuring 25 mm × 22 mm (0.98 in × 0.87 in). [8] Both parents (and possibly any helpers present) incubate the eggs for 18 to 21 days. [5] The fledging period is 27 to 31 days and fledglings are fed for around a month before they leave the nest. [5]

Conservation status

Although the population trend of the forest kingfisher is decreasing, it is classed as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List. [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>Todiramphus</i> Genus of birds

Todiramphus is a genus of kingfishers in the subfamily Halcyoninae that are endemic to the Philippines, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and many islands in the South Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-billed kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The yellow-billed kingfisher(Syma torotoro) is a medium-sized tree kingfisher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collared kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The collared kingfisher is a medium-sized kingfisher belonging to the subfamily Halcyoninae, the tree kingfishers. It is also known as the white-collared kingfisher, black-masked kingfisher or mangrove kingfisher. It has a wide range extending from the Red Sea across southern Asia to Polynesia. A number of subspecies and subspecies groups have been split from this species including the Pacific kingfisher, the islet kingfisher, the Torresian kingfisher, the Mariana kingfisher, and the Melanesian kingfisher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banded kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The banded kingfisher is a tree kingfisher found in lowland tropical forests of southeast Asia. It is the only member of the genus Lacedo. Male and female adults are very different in plumage. The male has a bright blue crown with black and blue banding on the back. The female has rufous and black banding on the head and upperparts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moustached kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The moustached kingfisher, also called Bougainville moustached kingfisher, is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is endemic to Bougainville Island in Papua New Guinea. An estimated 250–1,000 mature individuals are left.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous-collared kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The rufous-collared kingfisher is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted wood kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The spotted wood kingfisher or spotted kingfisher is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is endemic to the Philippines where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountain kingfisher</span> Species of kingfisher endemic to New Guinea

The mountain kingfisher is a species of bird in the subfamily Halcyoninae in the family Alcedinidae. Adult males are 21–24 cm (8.3–9.4 in) long, and have a rufous head and underparts, greenish-blue upperparts, a dark blue tail, and black flight feathers. They also have dark neck patches and loral patches. Females have dark crowns and the neck patches join at the nape. It is similar to the yellow-billed kingfisher, but can be distinguished by its larger size and a proportionally larger bill, along with a dark ridge along its culmen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinnamon-banded kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The cinnamon-banded kingfisher is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is found in Indonesia and East Timor. It is endemic to the Lesser Sundas. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-black kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The blue-black kingfisher is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. A medium-sized kingfisher of mangroves and forested streams in the lowlands. It is found in New Guinea and offshore islands of Salawati, Batanta and Yapen. It is considered rare and declining with threats being logging of lowland swamp forests and declining water quality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-backed kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The red-backed kingfisher is a species of kingfisher in the subfamily Halcyoninae, also known as tree kingfishers. It is a predominantly blue-green and white bird with a chestnut rump. It is found across the continent of Australia, mainly inhabiting the drier regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beach kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The beach kingfisher is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winchell's kingfisher</span> Species of bird

Winchell's kingfisher or the rufous-lored kingfisher, is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae, the kingfishers. It is endemic to the Philippines, its natural habitat being lowland forests. It is threatened by deforestation, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as a vulnerable species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-throated gerygone</span> Species of bird

The white-throated gerygone is a species of bird in the family Acanthizidae. It is found in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Its common names include white-throated warbler, white-throated flyeater, bush canary, and native canary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-headed robin</span> Species of bird

The grey-headed robin is a species of bird in the family Petroicidae. It is found in northeastern Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slaty robin</span> Species of songbird native to New Guinea

The slaty robin, also known as the blue-grey robin, is a species of bird in the family Petroicidae, present in the New Guinea Highlands and sparsely in the island's northern areas. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-winged robin</span> Species of songbird native to New Guinea

The white-winged robin is a species of bird in the family Petroicidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-bellied thicket fantail</span> Species of bird

The white-bellied thicket fantail is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae. This species is one of 47 in the genus Rhipidura. It is found in New Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Large-billed scrubwren</span> Species of bird

The large-billed scrubwren is a passerine bird in the family Acanthizidae, endemic to eastern Australia. It is found in denser undergrowth in temperate forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torresian kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The Torresian kingfisher is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is found in southern New Guinea and in Australia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, mangroves, and plantations. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the collared kingfisher.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Todiramphus macleayii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22683322A92983942. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22683322A92983942.en . Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen (Eds). 2020. IOC World Bird List (v10.2). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.10.2.
  3. 1 2 Jobling, James A. (2010). "Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird-names" . Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  4. Gill, F. and D. Donsker, eds. (2020). IOC World Bird List (v 10.1). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.10.1. https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/master-list-2/
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Woodall, P. F. and G. M. Kirwan (2020). "Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii), version 1.0." In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. doi : 10.2173/bow.forkin1.01
  6. Simpson K, Day N, Trusler P (1993). Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. Ringwood, Victoria: Viking O'Neil. p. 160. ISBN   0-670-90478-3.
  7. 1 2 3 Slater, Peter (1970). A Field Guide to Australian Birds: Vol.1. Non-passerines . Adelaide: Rigby. pp. 405–06. ISBN   0-85179-102-6.
  8. 1 2 Beruldsen, G (2003). Australian Birds: Their Nests and Eggs. Kenmore Hills, Qld: self. p. 269. ISBN   0-646-42798-9.
  9. "Birds in Backyards – Forest Kingfisher". Australian Museum, Sydney. 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2008.
  10. Morcombe, Michael (2012) Field Guide to Australian Birds. Pascal Press, Glebe, NSW. Revised edition. ISBN   978174021417-9
  11. BirdLife International (2016). "Todiramphus macleayii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22683322A92983942.en .