White-throated Kingfisher

Taxobox
name = White-throated Kingfisher
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
status_ref = [IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=47716|title=Halcyon smyrnensis|downloaded=11 May 2006]


image_caption = Race "fusca" from southern India
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Coraciiformes
familia = Halcyonidae
genus = "Halcyon"
species = "H. smyrnensis"
binomial = "Halcyon smyrnensis"
binomial_authority = Linnaeus, 1758

The White-throated Kingfisher, "Halcyon smyrnensis", also known as the White-breasted Kingfisher or Smyrna Kingfisher, is a tree kingfisher [Fry, Fry and Harris "Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers" ISBN 0-7136-8028-8] which is widely distributed in south Asia from Bulgaria, [cite journal|author=Spasov S|year=2006|title=The first record of White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis for Bulgaria|journal=Sandgrouse|volume=28|issue=1|pages=76-77] Turkey east to the Philippines. This kingfisher is essentially resident over much of its range, apart from seasonal movements.

The first English was suggested since the geographical name is too restrictive for this widespread bird, while its easternmost race lacks a white breast.

Description

This is a large kingfisher, 28 cm in length. The adult has a bright blue back, wings and tail. Its head, shoulders, flanks and lower belly are chestnut, and the throat and breast are white. The large bill and legs are bright red. The flight of the White-throated Kingfisher is rapid and direct, the short rounded wings whirring. In flight, large white patches are visible on the blue and black wings. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are a duller version of the adult.

There are four geographic races differing mainly in the plumage shades, but "H. s. gularis" of the Philippines has only the neck and throat white. Race "fusca" is found in Peninsular India and Sri Lanka and is slightly smaller, bluer and with a darker brown underside than the nominate race found in northwestern India. Race "saturatior" is found in the Andaman Islands and is larger with darker brown underparts. Race "perpulchra" (not always recognized) is found in northeastern India and is smaller than "fusca" with paler underparts.Rasmussen, PC & JC Anderton 2005. Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions.] Albinism has been noted on occasion. [Gunawardana, Jagath (1993) Description of an albino White-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis). CBCN. 1993(June), 56-57.]

The call of this kingfisher is a chuckling "chake-ake-ake-ake-ake". They are particularly noisy in the breeding season.

Habitat and distribution

White-throated Kingfisher is a common species of a variety of habitats, mostly open country with trees, wires or other perches. The range of the species is expanding.

Habits

It perches conspicuously on wires or other exposed perches within its territory, and is a frequent sight in south Asia. This species mainly hunts large crustaceans, [Tehsin, Raza (1995) Crab-eating by Whitebreasted Kingfisher "Halcyon smyrnensis" (Linn.). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. . 92(1):121] insects, earthworms, [Yahya, HSA; Yasmin,Shahla (1991) Earthworms in the dietary of the Whitebreasted Kingfisher "Halcyon smyrnensis" (Linn.). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. . 88(3):454.] rodents, snakes, fish and frogs. [Roberts,T J; Priddy,C (1965) Food of the Whitebreasted Kingfisher "Halcyon smyrnensis" (Linnaeus)] . J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 62(1):152-153] [Tehsin ,Raza (1989) Feeding behaviour of Whitebreasted Kingfisher "Halcyon smyrnensis" (Linnaeus). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 86(3):449] The young are fed mostly on invertebrates. [cite journal|title=Notes on the diet of nestling White-throated Kingfishers Halcyon smyrnensis in Malaysia|journal=Forktail|year=1998|volume = 14 | pages=79-80|author=Burton NHK|url=http://www.orientalbirdclub.org/publications/forktail/14pdfs/Burton-Kingfisher.pdf|format=PDF] It is reputed to eat tired migratory passerine birds like Chiffchaffs where the opportunity arises.Fact|date=September 2008

Population status

This kingfisher is widespread and populations are not threatened. They have few predators and only rare cases of predation are known such as by a Black Kite. [Narayanan, E (1989) Pariah Kite "Milvus migrans" capturing Whitebreasted Kingfisher "Halcyon smyrnensis". J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 86(3):445] A few parasites have been noted. [cite journal|title=Records of two new nematodes (Acuariidae) parasitizing kingfishers (Coraciiformes) of West Bengal India|author=Nandi AP; De NC; Majumdar G|year=1985|volume =22|issue=3|pages=161-170|journal=Helminthologia]

Breeding

The White-throated Kingfisher begins breeding at the onset of the Monsoons. In its courtship display it spreads out the wings with bill raised high to show the white patterns. The nest is a 50cm tunnel in an earth bank. A single clutch of 4-7 round white eggs is typical.

References

External links

* Different size images of the [http://www.flickr.com/photos/shivanayak/19305870/ White-throated Kingfisher]
* [http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Asia/Malaysia/photo34169.htm White Throated Kingfisher] with a small frog
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=3386 White-throated Kingfisher videos] on the Internet Bird Collection