- Mewing Kingfisher
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Mewing Kingfisher Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae Genus: Todiramphus Species: T. ruficollaris Binomial name Todiramphus ruficollaris
(Holyoak, 1974)Synonyms Todirhamphus ruficollaris (Holyoak, 1974) [orth. error]
The Mewing Kingfisher or Mangaia Kingfisher (Todiramphus ruficollaris), known locally as the Tanga‘eo, is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae, or Kingfisher family. It is endemic to Mangaia in the Cook Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and plantations.
Contents
Description
The Mewing Kingfisher is 22 cm in length, with a large head and large black bill. Similar to some other Todiramphus kingfishers, it has blue-green upper-parts, with a yellow-orange collar and head-band, and a blue-green cap. The under-parts are white.
Conservation
It is threatened by habitat loss and by disturbance by introduced Common Mynas at its nesting hollows. The Taporoporo'anga Ipukarea Society, BirdLife International's partner organisation in the Cook Islands, has proposed a program to eradicate the mynas from Mangaia.
References
- BirdLife International 2004. Todiramphus ruficollaris. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 24 July 2007.
- Cook Islands Biodiversity: Mangaia Kingfisher. Accessed 13 May 2009.
External links
Categories:- IUCN Red List vulnerable species
- Birds of the Cook Islands
- Todiramphus
- Animals described in 1974
- Mangaia
- Coraciiformes stubs
- Cook Islands stubs
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