Yellow-billed Kingfisher

Taxobox
name = Yellow-billed Kingfisher
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Coraciiformes
familia = Halcyonidae
genus = "Syma"
species = "S. torotoro"
binomial = "Syma torotoro"
binomial_authority = Lesson, 1827
synonyms = "Halcyon torotoro"The Yellow-billed Kingfisher ("Syma torotoro") is a medium-sized (length 20 cm, wingspan 29 cm, weight 40 g) tree kingfisher. Colouring is distinctive: orange head and neck with black nape patch and white throat. Adult females also have black crown patch. Upper mantle blackish grading to olive green on back, blue-green on rump and blue tail. Upperwing dull green-blue with flight feathers dark olive-black. Underparts pale orange-grey. Bill orange-yellow in adults, dark grey in juveniles.

Distribution and habitat

Widespread throughout lowland New Guinea and adjacent islands, extending to northern Cape York Peninsula in Australia, the Yellow-billed Kingfisher may be found in Rainforest, monsoon forest and forest edges.

Conservation

With a large range and no evidence of significant decline, the conservation status of this species is assessed as being of Least Concern.

Diet

Large insects, earthworms and lizards.

Breeding

Nest in excavated chamber in arboreal termite nest, laying clutch of 3-4 white eggs.

Voice

Loud, repeated whistling trills, mainly in breeding season.

References

* BirdLife International. (2006). Species factsheet: "Syma torotoro". Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 14 March 2007.
* Coates, Brian J. (1985). "The Birds of Papua New Guinea. Volume 1: Non-Passerines". Dove Publications: Alderley, Queensland. ISBN 0-9590257-0-7
* Higgins, P.J. (ed). (1999). "Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 4: Parrots to Dollarbird". Oxford University Press: Melbourne. ISBN 0-19-553071-3