Scaly-breasted Kingfisher
Actenoides princeps
A large forest kingfisher with a deep purple-blue head, a brown back, a pale collar, and whitish underparts. Bold scaling on upperparts and underparts is diagnostic. Males show a small buff mark at the base of the bill, while females show a buff eyebrow and moustache. North Sulawesi form has a buff collar, but collar is orange elsewhere on Sulawesi. Juveniles are more heavily scaled, with a dull-colored bill. Found in dense understory of forests in the hills and mountains. Vocalizations include a rising and falling mournful whistle, “weeeeyu,” and an agitated chatter.
Identification
The adult scaly-breasted kingfisher measures about 24 cm (9 in) in length. It has a blue head and reddish-brown collar, and the female has a buff-coloured forehead. The back is dark brown scalloped with buff. The underparts are plain whitish-buff in the male and are barred with darker colour in the female. Birds in the northeast of the range have horn-coloured bills, northwestern birds have red bills, and southern birds have orange and brown bills. Also some differences are seen between the subspecies in the detail of the plumage. The only bird with which this species might be confused is the green-backed kingfisher (Actenoides monachus), also present in Sulawesi, but that species is usually found at lower altitudes and has a dark-green back and reddish-brown underparts.
Taxonomy
Genus: Actenoides; Family: Alcedinidae; Order: Coraciiformes.
- Scientific name
- Actenoides princeps
- Authority
- (Reichenbach, 1851)
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Genus
- Actenoides
Range and habitat
The scaly-breasted kingfisher is endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Two subspecies are found in moist, montane forests, A. p. princeps from the northeast of the island andA. p. erythrorhamphus from the northwest and central parts. A. p. regalis is found in the southeast, but is now regarded as its own species, the plain-backed kingfisher. In the Minahassa Peninsula of northern Sulawesi, the nominate subspecies is found in the Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve in primary forest at elevations between 1,050 and 1,550 metres (3,440 and 5,090 ft) above sea level. Its habitat is the dense understorey of undisturbed primary forest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Chilean Flicker
Colaptes pitius
No similar species in its range. Found in woodland, forest, matorral, and farmland with taller trees and hedges; often feeds on the ground. In some areas of central Chile nests in colonies in dirt bluffs, such as along roadsides; elsewhere usually nests in holes drilled in trees. Note the gray crown and plain buffy face (with dark whisker on male), big white rump patch, and yellow shafts to wing feathers (mainly visible in flight). Loud shrieking calls sometimes draw attention.
Banded Broadbill
Eurylaimus javanicus
Deep purplish-red broadbill with bold yellow patches on the wings and tail. Broad-based bill and irises are bright blue. Female is slightly duller than the male, and lacks a black line across the chest. Favors riparian and wet forests from the lowlands up into montane areas, and will visit edges, gardens, and parks. Forages in the canopy, often flying from a perch to do so. More vocal than Black-and-yellow Broadbill, giving long, drawn-out whistles and buzzing trills.
Ashy Cisticola
Cisticola cinereolus
A large, long-tailed, streak-backed upland cisticola. Note the lack of rufous or rich brown in the plumage, and also the pale tips to the tail. Found in dry thorn savanna and thornscrub. Similar to other cisticolas, especially Rattling, Tana River, and Boran, but identified by its song and by the absence of rufous or brown on the cap. Often sits on top of bushes and trees to sing. Song is a short musical whistled phrase, usually with a downward pitch trend, but sometimes trending upward. Much more musical than the song of Boran Cisticola, often with more variation in pitch. The calls are high-pitched squeaks.
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