Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Status NT
Habitat loss through logging, particularly of lowland swamp forests, and the consequential decline in water quality is the main threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Blue-black Kingfisher (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus) [XC141082]
by Bas van Balen from Tangguh, West Papua, Indonesia (song)
Blue-black Kingfisher (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus) [XC409633]
by Ross Gallardy from Sorong Manoi (near Sorong), Kota Sorong, Papua Barat, Indonesia (call)
Subspecies
Genus often merged into Halcyon. Subspecies very distinctive, and have on occasion been suggested to be separate species. However, intermediates have been found in areas of overlap, between nominate and quadricolor (on shores of Geelvink Bay) and nominate and stictolaemus (Merauke to R Fly), while ecology and vocalizations appear very similar, all together indicating that the three are probably conspecific.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
nigrocyaneus (Wallace, 1862) - Western Papuan Is (Batanta, Salawati) east to Geelvink Bay in northern and to Princess Marianne Strait in south.
quadricolor (Oustalet, 1880) - Yapen I to Madang and Astrolabe Bay.
stictolaemus (Salvadori, 1876) - Koerik District and R Fly east to Mt Cameron (western Owen Stanley Range).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet