New Britain Kingfisher
Todiramphus albonotatus
A medium-sized blue-and-white kingfisher with a pale blue crown, a black eye mask, and a mostly white body with blue wings and tail. Female has blue rump, while male’s is white. Bill is entirely black. Prefers lowland primary forest up to 1000 meters of elevation, but also recorded in degraded forest. Forest Kingfisher is slightly larger with a green back and rump and a more prominent white spot in front of the eye. Sacred Kingfisher and local race of Pacific Kingfisher are more buff in pale areas and overall more greenish-blue than pure blue. Beach Kingfisher is much larger and overall paler. New Britain Kingfisher’s call is a rapidly descending “kee-ku-ko-ko” or a light cackling trill.
Identification
The white-mantled kingfisher is 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) in length and has a black bill, and the plumage is mostly white in the male, with blue wings, tail, a turquoise crown, and a thick black stripe through the eye. The female is similar to the male but has blue on the lower back.The call is a rapid descending "kee-ku-ko-ko" or a trilling "ki-ki-ki-ki-ki".<p>It is widespread but scarce and is probably threatened by habitat loss.
Taxonomy
Genus: Todiramphus; Family: Alcedinidae; Order: Coraciiformes.
- Scientific name
- Todiramphus albonotatus
- Authority
- (Ramsay, EP, 1884)
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Genus
- Todiramphus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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Melanopareia torquata
Shy and attractive species with a long tail, which can be held cocked. Mostly olive-brown with a rusty nape, a black mask, and a white eyebrow. Note the black collar with a thin white line above that contrasts with its buff face and underparts. Found in grasslands with scattered bushes. The song is a series of far-carrying “chip” notes, repeated continually.
Siberian Crane
Leucogeranus leucogeranus
Rare and declining, but still fairly abundant at its main wintering grounds at Poyang Lake, in China’s Jiangxi Province. Adult is unmistakable with all-white plumage, save for a crimson face and black wingtips. Juveniles are whitish, with a light brown head, neck, back, and wings. Typically found around lake edges and fields, where it forages in small to medium-sized groups, primarily for plant matter and invertebrates.
Souimanga Sunbird
Cinnyris sovimanga
Small, hyperactive bird with a curved bill. Breeding males are colorful, with iridescent upperparts, and a yellow belly in most of the range, and a white belly in southwest Madagascar. Females are much duller, but can be told from female Madagascar Sunbird by their smaller size, smaller bill, and less distinct streaks below. Common in any habitat with woody vegetation. Feeds mainly on nectar, and flits around constantly. The song is a cheerful and explosive jumble of high-pitched notes.
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