Ruddy kingfisher
Ruddy kingfisher | |
---|---|
Near Malang, Indonesia | |
Conservation status | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Coraciiformes |
Family: | Alcedinidae |
Subfamily: | Halcyoninae |
Genus: | Halcyon |
Species: | H. coromanda |
Binomial name | |
Halcyon coromanda (Latham, 1790) |
The ruddy kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda) is a medium-sized tree kingfisher, widely distributed in east and southeast Asia.
Description
Reaching approximately 25 cm, 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 report male birds being somewhat brighter in plumage. 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.
Distribution and habitat
The ruddy kingfisher ranges 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.
The binomial name recalls the Coromandel Coast of India.
Behaviour and ecology
Food and feeding
Like other kingfishers, ruddy kingfishers generally feed on fish, crustaceans, and large insects. However, in areas with less running water, they are known to eat frogs and other amphibians.
Taxonomy
Halcyon coromanda includes the following subspecies:[2]
- H. c. coromanda - (Latham, 1790)
- H. c. major - (Temminck & Schlegel, 1848)
- H. c. bangsi - (Oberholser, 1915)
- H. c. mizorhina - (Oberholser, 1915)
- H. c. minor - (Temminck & Schlegel, 1848)
- H. c. linae - Hubbard & duPont, 1974
- H. c. claudiae - Hubbard & duPont, 1974
- H. c. rufa - Wallace, 1863
- H. c. pelingensis - Neumann, 1939
- H. c. sulana - Mees, 1970
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Halcyon coromanda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22683234A92979549. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22683234A92979549.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen (Eds). 2020. IOC World Bird List (v10.2). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.10.2.
Other sources
- Shimada, Tadashi (1985). Hi No Tori, Akashobin (Ruddy kingfisher). Heibonsha. ISBN 4-582-52915-1. - a photographic essay on the ruddy kingfisher, in Japanese.
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- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Coraciiformes
- Family: Alcedinidae
- Subfamily: Halcyoninae
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- Laughing kookaburra (D. novaeguineae)
- Blue-winged kookaburra (D. leachii)
- Spangled kookaburra (D. tyro)
- Rufous-bellied kookaburra (D. gaudichaud)
- Shovel-billed kookaburra (C. rex)
- Lilac kingfisher (C. cyanotis)
- Brown-winged kingfisher (P. amauroptera)
- Stork-billed kingfisher (P. capensis)
- Great-billed kingfisher (P. melanorhyncha)
- Ruddy kingfisher (H. coromanda)
- Chocolate-backed kingfisher (H. badia)
- White-throated kingfisher (H. smyrnensis)
- Grey-headed kingfisher (H. leucocephala)
- Black-capped kingfisher (H. pileata)
- Javan kingfisher (H. cyanoventris)
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- Mangrove kingfisher (H. senegaloides)
- Blue-breasted kingfisher (H. malimbica)
- Brown-hooded kingfisher (H. albiventris)
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- Blue-and-white kingfisher (T. diops)
- Lazuli kingfisher (T. lazuli)
- Forest kingfisher (T. macleayii)
- White-mantled kingfisher (T. albonotatus)
- Ultramarine kingfisher (T. leucopygius)
- Vanuatu kingfisher (T. farquhari)
- Red-backed kingfisher (T. pyrrhopygia)
- Flat-billed kingfisher (T. recurvirostris)
- Guam kingfisher (T. cinnamominus)
- Pohnpei kingfisher (T. reichenbachii)
- Rusty-capped kingfisher (T. pelewensis)
- Collared kingfisher (T. chloris)
- Pacific kingfisher (T. sacer)
- Melanesian kingfisher (T. tristrami)
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- Mariana kingfisher (T. albicilla)
- Torresian kingfisher (T. sordidus)
- Sombre kingfisher (T. funebris)
- Talaud kingfisher (T. enigma)
- Beach kingfisher (T. saurophaga)
- Cinnamon-banded kingfisher (T. australasia)
- Sacred kingfisher (T. sanctus)
- Society kingfisher (T. veneratus)
- Mewing kingfisher (T. ruficollaris)
- Chattering kingfisher (T. tuta)
- Marquesan kingfisher (T. godeffroyi)
- Mangareva kingfisher (T. gambieri)
- Niau kingfisher (T. gertrudae)
- White-rumped kingfisher (C. fulgidus)
- Hook-billed kingfisher (M. macrorrhina)
- Moustached kingfisher (A. bougainvillei)
- Rufous-collared kingfisher (A. concretus)
- Spotted wood kingfisher (A. lindsayi)
- Hombron's kingfisher (A. hombroni)
- Green-backed kingfisher (A. monachus)
- Scaly-breasted kingfisher (A. princeps)
- Yellow-billed kingfisher (S. torotoro)
- Mountain kingfisher (S. megarhyncha)
- Little paradise kingfisher (T. hydrocharis)
- Common paradise kingfisher (T. galatea)
- Kofiau paradise kingfisher (T. ellioti)
- Biak paradise kingfisher (T. riedelii)
- Numfor paradise kingfisher (T. carolinae)
- Red-breasted paradise kingfisher (T. nympha)
- Brown-headed paradise kingfisher (T. danae)
- Buff-breasted paradise kingfisher (T. sylvia)
- Black-capped paradise kingfisher (T. nigriceps)