Stork-billed kingfisher

Stork-billed kingfisher
From Baranagar, India. The shape of its bill resembles that of a stork.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Subfamily: Halcyoninae
Genus: Pelargopsis
Species: P. capensis
Binomial name
Pelargopsis capensis
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Synonyms

Halcyon capensis

The stork-billed kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis, formerly Halcyon capensis), is a tree kingfisher which is widely but sparsely distributed in the tropical Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, from India to Indonesia. This kingfisher is resident throughout its range.

Pelargopsis capensis burmanica by Keulemans

It is a very large kingfisher, measuring 35 to 38 cm (14 to 15 in) in length.[2] 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 or subspecies, differing mostly 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 low and far reaching peer-por-por repeated about every 5 seconds, as well cackling ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke.[3]

The stork-billed kingfisher lives in 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.

Adults dig their nests in river banks, decaying trees, or tree termite nests. A clutch of two to five round white eggs is typical.

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Pelargopsis capensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Ali, Sálim (1996). The Book of Indian Birds (12th ed.). Bombay: Bombay Natural History Society. ISBN 0-19-563731-3.
  3. ↑ Fry, C.Hilary; Fry, Kathie; Harris, Alan (2000). Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, and Rollers. London, Eng.: Christopher Helm Publishers. pp. 137–139. ISBN 978-0-7136-5206-2. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
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