Crested Kingfisher
Megaceryle lugubris
Large thickset kingfisher of fast-flowing streams in forested inland regions. Dense, fine barring gives it a silvery appearance at a distance; this finer patterning, along with its large, shaggy crest, distinguishes it from the similarly black-and-white Pied Kingfisher. Often uses exposed perches, such as telephone lines and tall snags, from which it often gives its loud rattling call.
Identification
The crested kingfisher is a very large 41–43 cm (16–17 in) black and white kingfisher with a shaggy crest. It has evenly barred wings and tail. It lacks a supercilium and has a spotted breast, which is sometimes mixed with rufous.
Taxonomy
The first formal description of the crested kingfisher was by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1834 under the binomial name Alcedo lugubris. The current genus Megaceryle was erected by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup in 1848. Megaceryle is from the Ancient Greek megas, "great", and the existing genus Ceryle. The specific name lugubris is the Latin word for "mournful".<p>There are four subspecies:
- Scientific name
- Megaceryle lugubris
- Authority
- (Temminck, 1834)
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Genus
- Megaceryle
Range and habitat
It is resident in the Himalayas and mountain foothills of northern India, Bangladesh, northern Indochina, Southeast Asia and Japan. This bird is mainly found in mountain rivers and larger rivers in the foothills of mountains.
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
The nest is a burrow excavated into a vertical bank in a forest. It can be by a stream or a ravine or can be up to 1.5 km (0.93 mi) away from water. The burrow is dug by both sexes using their feet and bills. It is 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in) wide and 2–3 m (6 ft 7 in – 9 ft 10 in) in length. The clutch of 4-7 eggs is incubated only by the female. The nestlings are fed by both parents for around 40 days before they fledge.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Plain-colored Tanager
Tangara inornata
Well-named, plain gray with black wings and dark mask. Iridescent blue-purple shoulder is usually not visible. Most similar to Palm Tanager but grayer (not olive) without pale patch at base of primaries. Also could be confused with Blue-gray Tanager in poor light, but Plain-colored's dark wings are more contrasting. Sexes alike. Seen in pairs or small flocks in open woody habitats like forest edges or shrubby second growth.
Black-and-white Triller
Lalage melanoleuca
A medium-sized bird of lowland and foothill forest canopy. Has a black tail with white corners, black wings with a large white patch, and a white rump. Male has a black crown and back and entirely white underparts. Females have a gray crown and back. Northern females have white underparts with a barred throat and chest, while southern females have a gray throat and chest with faint barring below. Similar to Pied Triller, but lacks the white brow and is found in forest rather than open habitats. Song consists of a 1- to 3-syllabled whistled phrase repeated 5-20 times in a row.
Bay Coucal
Centropus celebensis
A reddish-brown cuckoo with a long, often shaggy-looking tail. Juvenile shows a pale eye and a paler breast and throat than adults. The species favors vine tangles within forest and forest edge in lowlands and foothills, where it is usually encountered singly or in pairs. The entirely brown body, lacking black, separates this species from Lesser Coucal. Song is a series of “hoot” notes that often encourages other nearby coucals to respond. Alarm call is a harsh, short rasping “burr.”
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