Common Paradise-Kingfisher
Tanysiptera galatea
A long-tailed kingfisher of lowland forests. White underparts and rump, dark blue upperparts with pale blue shoulder and crown. Long white tail with 2 extended central tail feathers ending in spatula tips. Sits still for long periods whilst slowly pumping its tail. Very similar to Little Paradise-Kingfisher, but Common Paradise-Kingfisher is larger, with a paler crown, white rather than blue outer tail feathers and a heavier bill. The safest way to separate, however is by vocalization. Heard more often than seen. Song, a rapidly accelerating and slightly rising series of dry notes.
识别特征
This kingfisher has a red bill, a dark turquoise cap with brighter blue edges, blackish cheeks, and bluish-black upper parts. The under parts are white and the under-wing coverts are blue and white. The central tail feathers are elongated and their base is blue. It is similar in appearance to the buff-breasted paradise kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) apart from the colour of the breast, and in some parts of Papua New Guinea, both birds coexist.
分类信息
The common paradise kingfisher was first described by the English zoologist George Robert Gray in 1859 based on specimens collected by Alfred Russel Wallace near "Dorey" (modern Manokwari in western New Guinea). Gray coined the current binomial name Tanysiptera galatea. The genus Tanysiptera had been introduced by the Irish zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigors in 1825. The name Tanysiptera is from classical Greek tanusipteros meaning 'long-feathered'. The specific epithet galatea is from Greek mythology: Galatea was a sea nymph.<p>There are 15 recognised subspecies. Of these three occur on mainland New Guinea, 11 on the Maluku Islands to the west of New Guinea, and two on other islands.<p>The Biak paradise kingfisher (Tanysiptera riedelii) and the Kofiau paradise kingfisher (Tanysiptera ellioti) have sometimes been considered as subspecies of the common paradise kingfisher.
- 学名
- Tanysiptera galatea
- 命名信息
- Gray, GR, 1859
- 目
- Coraciiformes
- 科
- Alcedinidae
- 属
- Tanysiptera
分布与栖息地
The common paradise kingfisher is found in the forested interior of New Guinea and on some of the offshore islands to the north. Its distribution is rather patchy and it mostly occurs below 500 m (1,600 ft) on the mainland and 820 m (2,700 ft) on Karkar Island. On some islands it is replaced by sister species; the Biak paradise kingfisher (T. riedelii) on Biak Island; the Kofiau paradise kingfisher (T. ellioti) on Kofiau Island; and the Numfor paradise kingfisher (T. carolinae) on Numfor Island. It seems that each of these island species originated from founding T. galatea birds which became isolated from the mainland birds and underwent a "genetic revolution". There were no particular biotic factors involved, but there was sufficient variation among the founding birds to encourage speciation, and the assortment of genes that the birds on each island received was later undisturbed by the inflow of alien genes.
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
This species is common and mostly non-migratory, although some birds move out of monsoon rainforest in the dry season. A pair will defend a territory of 0.3 to 0.5 hectares (0.7 to 1.2 acres). The nest is made in an active termite nest in a tree. The termites build a termitarium against the tree trunk and the birds excavate a hole in its earthen wall, which can be as much as 15 cm (6 in) long leading to a 13 cm (5 in) chamber at the end. They usually try several sites before selecting one. A clutch of about five eggs are laid between November and March and both parents care for the young.<p>The diet consists of such invertebrates as earthworms, grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, centipedes and snails, and occasionally lizards. The bird perches upright on a low branch, remaining stationary for long periods, apart from occasionally twisting its head or flicking its tail. On seeing movement below, it swoops to the forest floor to pounce, returning with its prey to the branch. The victim may be dismembered, or subdued by bashing it against the branch. Some insects are plucked off foliage, while earthworms are sought by foraging through the leaf litter and probing the leafmould with its beak.
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- declining
照片
分布
其他鸟类
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker
Dicaeum ignipectus
Tiny songbird of mountain and hill forests; ranges from the Himalayas south to the Malay Peninsula on the Asian mainland, with an isolated population in Taiwan’s highlands. Adult male is dark blue above and pale creamy white below, with a black stripe leading down the belly from a brilliantly red patch like a bloodstain on the breast. Female is much plainer, brownish-olive above and off-white below; lacks the bright white throat of Plain and female Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers. Often forages at flowers blooming in the canopy. Gives a high, thin, up-and-down “tsee’ip, tsee’ip, tsee’ip” and a rising series of ticks (often ending with more metallic notes); calls include dry tick notes and high, thin “tseet”s.
Violet Crow
Corvus violaceus
An entirely blackish short-tailed crow. Has a subtle purplish sheen that is visible in only certain lighting conditions. Juveniles lack purple gloss. Inhabits forest, edge, and plantations in the lowlands and foothills. Singles, pairs, or small groups can be found in the canopy. Recently described from Seram, and perhaps also occurs on Ambon and Buru. Unmistakable, being the only crow on these islands. Gives an odd call for a crow: a nasal, trumpeting “errr.” Gives more crow-like sounds too, but higher-pitched than many sounds of the family, including a high-pitched, guttural “kreh-kreh…”.
Reichard's Seedeater
Crithagra reichardi
Medium-sized brown seedeater. Note the boldly marked face with a streaked crown, white eyebrow, and broad dark brown patch through the eye; also note pale streaks on breast. Found in woodland habitats including miombo. Gives a pretty, musical up-and-down song of whistles and trills. The call is a harsh “chu-wee-uu.” Similar to Black-eared Seedeater, but the ear markings are dark brown rather than black.
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