Sacred Kingfisher

Sacred Kingfisher

CommonGBIF 6.3·Dongniao Rarity Index6.83

Todiramphus sanctus

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) 白眉翡翠,是佛法僧目翠鸟科林翡翠属的鸟类。中型翠鸟,广泛分布于澳大利亚、新西兰以及太平洋西部地区。其特征为头部有明显的白色眉纹,胸前为奶油色至白色,背部和尾部呈现美丽的蓝绿色调。雄雌外观相似,但雌鸟颜色略显暗淡。

Species Profile

IOC World Bird List

Sacred Kingfisher

Todiramphus sanctus· Kingfishers

20-23 cm. Male: crown dark blue-green, with short, wedge-shaped buff eyebrow; mask black; wings/tail peacock blue; back green; collar/underparts variably buff-white. Female: greener above, collar/underparts whiter. Juvenile: duller with buff feather margins. Singles, pairs, migratory parties: perches in trees, wires, posts, stumps; darts down to seize large insects, small reptiles. Flight swift, direct, showing warm buff wing linings. Noisy when breeding.

Similar Species
Forest Kingfisher: in flight, white wing spot. Collared Kingfisher.
Voice
high-pitched 'dek dek dek dek' usually of 4-5 notes, oft repeated; peevish, rising 'keer keer keer'; harsh scoldings; rising musical trill.
Habitat
open forests/woodlands; margins of rivers, lakes; seashores, mangroves, mudflats, islands, golf courses, parks, garden ponds.
Breeding
Sept.-March.
Eggs
3-4; white, rounded; on debris in tree hollow, tree termite nest; tunnel in bank.
Range & Status
resident n. Aust.; regular spring-summer breeding migrant (Sept.-April) to coastal/sub-coastal s. Aust., from n. of Brisbane (Q) to sw. WA; casual Bass Strait islands, Tas. Also Norfolk, Lord Howe Is. Winters inland and n. coastal Aust., PNG, Indonesia. Also resident Indonesia, PNG, Solomon Is., New Cal., NZ.
Distribution key to races
1. Todiramphus sanctus sanctus 2. Todiramphus sanctus vagans (Lord Howe I.) 3. Todiramphus sanctus norfolkiensis (Norfolk I.)