| Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827)) |
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Scientific name: Todiramphus sanctus (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) Common name: Sacred Kingfisher French name: Martin-chasseur sacré Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae Size: Body size: 20 to 23 cm; Weight: 28 to 61 g; Wingspan: 33 to 37 cm. Habitat: Woodland areas, open Eucalyptus or Melaleuca forests, mangroves. Food: Sacred Kingfishers feed mainly on the ground, on reptiles, large insects, larvae and crustaceans. Nesting: The nest is a burrow dug in the bank of a river or in a termite mound, or a cavity dug in a rotting trunk or branch. There are generally 2 clutches of 3 to 6 eggs per year. Migration: New Zealand birds fly down to the sea coasts after the breeding season. Birds from the southern 2/3 of Australia migrate north to New Guinea, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. Geographic area: Australia, New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Indonesia (Todiramphus sanctus sanctus subspecies), New Zealand, Lord Howe Island and Kermadec Islands (Todiramphus sanctus vagans subspecies), Norfolk Island (Todiramphus sanctus norfolkiensis subspecies), New Caledonia (Todiramphus sanctus canacorum subspecies) and Loyalty Islands (Todiramphus sanctus macmillani subspecies). |
The Sacred Kingfisher has blue-green upperparts and turquoise down the back to the tail. The underparts vary from white to buff. A broad black stripe runs from the bill to the nape of the neck, passing over the eye. It is located just above a large creamy white collar. There is a small buff or white spot on the front of the eye which may also extend behind the eye to form a thin eyebrow. |
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Perched on an electric wire, this Sacred Kingfisher came to see tourists at the start of a hike on the Queen Charlotte Track. This is of course the Todiramphus sanctus vagans subspecies which is found in New Zealand. |
André Bon July 2024