Red-backed Kingfisher
Todiramphus pyrrhopygius· 翠鸟科(5 photos)
Red-backed Kingfisher
20-24 cm. Male: crown streaked grey-green; long black mask; mantle grey-green; wings/tail dusty blue; lower back pale orange-tan. Female: duller, greyer above. Singles, pairs: perches open dead trees, overhead wires; often far from water or cover. Flight swift, direct: hunts large insects, small reptiles, house mice.
- Similar Species
- Sacred Kingfisher.
- Voice
- mournful level whistle, 'peel'; parrot-like chatter and far-carrying 'k-prrr, k-prrr' when courting.
- Habitat
- sparse inland woodlands, scrublands; often far from water: gibber, spinifex, other grasslands; tree-lined dry watercourses; grassy tropical woodlands.
- Breeding
- Aug.-Feb.
- Eggs
- 4-5; white, rounded; in burrow in creek bank, cliff, road cutting, sand-dump, termite mound; occasionally in hollow branch.
- Range & Status
- mainland Aust.: spring-summer (Sept.-Feb.) breeding migrant to inland and drier sub-coastal se. and sw. Aust.; vagrant s. Vic., Tas. Winters in inland and n. Aust. Uncommon. Migratory; nomadic.
