Yellow-billed Kingfisher

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yellow-billed Kingfisher
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Coraciiformes Family: Halcyonidae Genus: Syma Species: S. torotoro
Binomial name
Syma torotoro Lesson, 1827
Synonyms
Halcyon torotoro

The Yellow-billed Kingfisher (Syma torotoro) is a medium-sized (length 20 cm, wingspan 29 cm, weight 40 g) tree kingfisher. Colouring is distinctive: orange head and neck with black nape patch and white throat. Adult females also have black crown patch. Upper mantle blackish grading to olive green on back, blue-green on rump and blue tail. Upperwing dull green-blue with flight feathers dark olive-black. Underparts pale orange-grey. Bill orange-yellow in adults, dark grey in juveniles.

Contents 1 Distribution and habitat 1.1 Conservation 2 Diet 3 Breeding 4 Voice 5 References

[edit] Distribution and habitat

Widespread throughout lowland New Guinea and adjacent islands, extending to northern Cape York Peninsula in Australia, the Yellow-billed Kingfisher may be found in Rainforest, monsoon forest and forest edges.

[edit] Conservation

With a large range and no evidence of significant decline, the conservation status of this species is assessed as being of Least Concern.

[edit] Diet

Large insects, earthworms and lizards.

[edit] Breeding

Nest in excavated chamber in arboreal termite nest, laying clutch of 3-4 white eggs.

[edit] Voice

Loud, repeated whistling trills, mainly in breeding season.

[edit] References

• BirdLife International. (2006). Species factsheet: Syma torotoro. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 14 March 2007.
• Coates, Brian J. (1985). The Birds of Papua New Guinea. Volume 1: Non-Passerines. Dove Publications: Alderley, Queensland. ISBN 0-9590257-0-7
• Higgins, P.J. (ed). (1999). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 4: Parrots to Dollarbird. Oxford University Press: Melbourne. ISBN 0-19-553071-3