Forest Kingfisher
Todiramphus macleayii(3 photos)
Forest Kingfisher
18-23 cm. Deep blue above, pale turquoise on back; large white spot over bill; underparts white. In flight, prominent white wing-spot. Male: white collar; female none. Juvenile: duller; upperparts scalloped buff; white areas washed buff. Singles, pairs: perches on high branches, overhead wires; darts down to seize large insects, small reptiles.
- Similar Species
- Sacred, Collared Kingfishers: greener; no wing spot; Sacred often buffer. Little Kingfisher.
- Voice
- high-pitched, scratchy 'krree-krree-krree'; loud rattle; scolding screeches, chatterings near nest.
- Habitat
- open forest, woodland, timber along watercourses, farmlands, canefields, beaches, mangroves.
- Breeding
- Sept.-Jan.
- Eggs
- 3-5; white, rounded; on decayed debris in hollow branch, trunk; tree termite nest, 3-25 m high.
- Range & Status
- nominate race: Top End (NT) to Gulf Coast (Q); race incinctus: coastal e. Aust. from C. York (Q) to Macleay R. (NSW); occasional Sydney; casual se. NSW; s. Vic.; inland to Mt Surprise-Chinchilla (Q)-Moree (NSW). Breeding migrant to se. Q-ne. NSW, Sept.-March. Common. Also PNG, New Britain, etc.; resident and winter migrant from Aust.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Todiramphus macleayii macleayii 2. Todiramphus macleayii incinctus
