Tree Kingfishers or Wood Kingfishers
Kingfishers
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The tree kingfishers or wood kingfishers, family Halcyonidae, are the most numerous of the three families of birds in the kingfisher group. There are between 56 and 61 species of tree kingfisher in ca. 12 genera. The kingfishers are quite well-known: the vagueness of the counts reflects controversies in the taxonomy of this family more than any gross lack of data on the birds themselves; the present arrangement of genera seems to be well warranted by molecular analyses, although the relationship of many genera to one another is still unresolved (Moyle, 2006).
The family appears to have arisen in Indochina and the Malay Archipelago and then spead to many areas around the world. Tree kingfishers are widespread through Asia and Australasia, but also appear in Africa and the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
List of species in taxonomic order
- Banded Kingfisher, Lacedo pulchella
- Laughing Kookaburra, Dacelo novaeguineae
- Blue-winged Kookaburra, Dacelo leachii
- Spangled Kookaburra, Dacelo tyro : The Spangled Kookaburra is a little-known, but spectacular species of Kookaburra found only on the Aru Islands and the savannahs of southern New Guinea. It has bright blue wings and tail, a white chest and belly, dark eyes, and a striking white-spotted black head. Practically nothing is known of its family life or breeding biology.
- Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Dacelo gaudichaud : The Rufous-bellied Kookaburra is unusual in that it occupies dense rainforests (as opposed to the open country preferred by other kookaburras) and does not live in family groups but in pairs. A white-billed bird with a black cap, blue-tinged wings, and a pale rufous belly and tail feathers, it is widely distributed through the lowland forests of lowland New Guinea.
- Shovel-billed Kookaburra, Clytoceyx rex
- Lilac Kingfisher, Cittura cyanotis
- Brown-winged Kingfisher, Pelargopsis amauropterus
- Stork-billed Kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis : The Stork-billed Kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis (formerly Halcyon capensis), is a tree kingfisher which is widely but sparsely distributed in tropical south Asia from India and Sri Lanka to Indonesia. This kingfisher is essentially resident throughout its range. This is a very large kingfisher, 35 cm in length. The adult has a green back, blue wings and tail, and grey head. Its underparts and neck are buff. The very large bill and legs are bright red. The flight of the Stork-billed Kingfisher is laboured and flapping, but direct. Sexes are similar. There are 15 races, mostly differing in plumage detail, but P. c. gigantea of the Sulu Islands has a white head, neck and underparts. The call of this noisy kingfisher is a cackling ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke. Stork-billed Kingfisher is a species of a variety of well-wooded habitats near lakes, rivers or coasts. It perches quietly whilst seeking food, and is often inconspicuous despite its size. It is territorial and will chase away eagles and other large predators. This species hunts fish, frogs, crabs, rodents and young birds. Stork-billed Kingfisher digs its nest in a river bank, decaying tree, or a tree termite nest. A clutch of two to five round white eggs is typical.
- Black-billed Kingfisher, Pelargopsis melanorhyncha
- Ruddy Kingfisher, Halcyon coromanda : The Ruddy Kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda) is a medium-sized tree kingfisher which is widely distributed in east and southeast Asia, ranging from South Korea and Japan in the north, south through the Philippines to the Sunda Islands, and west to China and India. It is migratory, with birds in the northern part of the range migrating as far south as Borneo during winter. Locally common in southern parts of its range, the Ruddy Kingfisher is rare in Japan, where it is highly sought after by birders. Ruddy Kingfishers inhabit forested areas from the temperate to tropical zones, often in thick jungles and rainforests. Reaching approximately 25cm, the Ruddy Kingfisher has a very large, bright red bill and equally red legs. The body is rust red, generally deepening to purple at the tail. There is little sexual dimorphism though some sources state that male birds are somewhat brighter in plumage. Like other kingfishers, Ruddy Kingfishers generally feed on fish, crustaceans, and large insects, though in areas with less running water, they are known to take frogs and other amphibians. Due to its preference for heavily forested areas, the kingfisher's high, descending call is more often heard than the bird itself is seen, and these birds generally travel singly or in pairs.
- Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Halcyon badia
- White-throated Kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis
- Grey-headed Kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala
- Black-capped Kingfisher, Halcyon pileata : The Black-capped Kingfisher is a tree kingfisher which is widely distributed in tropical Asia from India east to China, Korea and Southeast Asia. This most northerly of the Halcyonidae is resident over much of its range, but northern populations are migratory and the wintering range extends to Sri Lanka, Thailand, Borneo and Java. This is a large kingfisher, 28 cm in length. The adult has a purple-blue back, black head and shoulders, white neck collar and throat, and rufous underparts. The large bill and legs are bright red. In flight, large white patches are visible on the blue and black wings. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are a duller version of the adult. The call of this kingfisher is a cackling ki-ki-ki-ki-ki. This is a common species on coastal waters especially in mangroves. Although easily disturbed, it perches conspicuously on wires or other exposed perches. This species mainly hunts large insects, but coastal birds will also take fish and frogs. The flight of the Black-capped Kingfisher is rapid and direct, the short rounded wings whirring. The nest is a tunnel in an earth bank. A single clutch of 4-5 round white eggs is typical.
- Javan Kingfisher, Halcyon cyanoventris
- Woodland Kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis
- Mangrove Kingfisher, Halcyon senegaloides
- Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Halcyon malimbica
- Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Halcyon albiventris
- Striped Kingfisher, Halcyon chelicuti
- Blue-black Kingfisher, Todirhamphus nigrocyaneus
- Rufous-lored Kingfisher, Todirhamphus winchelli
- Blue-and-white Kingfisher, Todirhamphus diops
- Lazuli Kingfisher, Todirhamphus lazuli
- Forest Kingfisher, Todirhamphus macleayii
- New Britain Kingfisher, Todirhamphus albonotatus
- Ultramarine Kingfisher, Todirhamphus leucopygius
- Chestnut-bellied Kingfisher, Todirhamphus farquhari
- Red-backed Kingfisher, Todirhamphus pyrrhopygia
- Flat-billed Kingfisher, Todirhamphus recurvirostris
- Micronesian Kingfisher, Todirhamphus cinnamominus
- Collared Kingfisher, Todirhamphus chloris
- Sombre Kingfisher, Todirhamphus funebris
- Talaud Kingfisher, Todirhamphus enigma
- Beach Kingfisher, Todirhamphus saurophaga
- Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher, Todirhamphus australasia
- Sacred Kingfisher, Todirhamphus sanctus
- Tahiti Kingfisher, Todirhamphus veneratus
- Mangaia Kingfisher, Todirhamphus ruficollaris
- Chattering Kingfisher, Todirhamphus tuta
- Marquesas Kingfisher, Todirhamphus godeffroyi
- Tuamotu Kingfisher, Todirhamphus gambieri
- White-rumped Kingfisher, Caridonax fulgidus
- Hook-billed Kingfisher, Melidora macrorrhina
- Moustached Kingfisher, Actenoides bougainvillei
- Rufous-collared Kingfisher, Actenoides concretus
- Spotted Kingfisher, Actenoides lindsayi
- Blue-capped Kingfisher, Actenoides hombroni
- Green-backed Kingfisher, Actenoides monachus
- Scaly Kingfisher, Actenoides princeps
- Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Syma torotoro
- Mountain Kingfisher, Syma megarhyncha
- Little Paradise Kingfisher, Tanysiptera hydrocharis
- Common Paradise Kingfisher, Tanysiptera galatea
- Kofiau Paradise Kingfisher, Tanysiptera ellioti
- Biak Paradise Kingfisher, Tanysiptera riedelii
- Numfor Paradise Kingfisher, Tanysiptera carolinae
- Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Tanysiptera nympha
- Brown-headed Paradise Kingfisher, Tanysiptera danae
- Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Tanysiptera sylvia
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