Bismarck Kingfisher
Ceyx websteri
A medium-sized blue-and-white kingfisher with a big, heavy black bill. Bluish-green upperparts and chest band contrast with creamy white underparts and white neck patch. Tail and rump lighter blue. Found along slow-flowing lowland rivers. Common Kingfisher is smaller, with orange underparts, and Little Kingfisher is much smaller with a comparatively thinner, weaker bill. Bismarck is told from dwarf kingfishers by larger size, heavier bill, and plain blue upperparts not flecked white. Told from all other blue-and-white kingfishers by blue hindneck and lack of black mask. Call is a loud whistle, stronger and less hissing than Common Kingfisher’s.
Identification
The Bismarck kingfisher (Ceyx websteri) is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, freshwater lakes, and freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Taxonomy
Genus: Ceyx; Family: Alcedinidae; Order: Coraciiformes.
- Scientific name
- Ceyx websteri
- Authority
- (Hartert, EJO, 1898)
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Genus
- Ceyx
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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