Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)

Other Names (World)
Sacred Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Tree Kingfisher, Wood Kingfisher, New Zealand Kingfisher (vagans), Flat-billed Kingfisher (recurvirostris), Kingfisher

Family
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)

Size
19 - 23 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Vigors & Horsfeld, 1827)

Derivation
Todiramphus - L., todus, tody; Gk, ramphus, bill, referring to the tody-like flattened bill with upcurved lower mandible: sanc'-tus - L., sanctus, sacred

Abundance (Guide)
C

Common. Sedentary in the north and a summer migrant to the south.

Habitat
Open forests and woodlands, margins of rivers, lakes, seashores, mangroves, mudflats, islands, golfcourses, parks, garden ponds.

Range (Guide)

Australia (B), Fiji (B), Indonesia, New Caledonia (B), New Zealand (B), Norfolk Island (B), Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands (B), Timor-Leste (NB), Wallis and Futuna Islands (B).

Vagrant to Christmas Island, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Nauru.

Unknown to Micronesia [Federated States of].

Australia generally and Tasmania.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is 60,000,000 (2010).

Status LC
Secure.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Singly, in pairs or family parties.

Food
Mainly insects and small reptiles, also fish and crabs.

Voice
A high-pitched 'dek dek dek dek', often repeated. A peevish, rising 'keer keer keer'. Harsh scoldings and a rising musical trill.

(90Kb) © ? (1)

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (63)...)

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) [XC526618]
by id from Mangakino, Taupo District, Waikato, New Zealand (song)

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) [XC202816]
by Dan Lane from Stirling Range National Park, Western Australia, Australia (song)

Breeding Season (Guide)
July - March.

Nest
In a hollow limb of a tree, in a bank, or in a termites nest in a tree.

Eggs (Guide)
3 - 6; smooth, rather glossy, white; broadly oval; about 26 x 22 mm. Incubation: about 16 - 17 days; by both sexes.

Young
Altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in about 28 days. Fed by both parents.

Subspecies
Genus often merged into Halcyon. Forms a superspecies with Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher (Todiramphus australasia), Chattering Kingfisher (Todiramphus tutus), Tahiti Kingfisher (Todiramphus veneratus), Tuamotu Kingfisher (Todiramphus gambieri) and Marquesas Kingfisher (Todiramphus godeffroyi). Has been considered conspecific with Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher (Todiramphus australasia).

Subspecies recurvirostris sometimes considered a full species, but its characteristic flattened bill seems to represent the extreme of a trend seen in macmillani, and so subspecific treatment appears more appropriate.

Subspecies regina, vitiensis and eximius of Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) sometimes considered to belong to Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus). Subspecies ruficollaris of Chattering Kingfisher (Todiramphus tutus) possibly better included within present species. In past, subspecis ruficollaris of Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus) inexplicably and erroneously listed under present species. Populations of Lord Howe I and Norfolk I sometimes separated as subspecies adamsi and norfolkiensis respectively, but they differ little from New Zealand vagans.

The following 6 subspecies are recognised:

sanctus (Vigors & Horsfeld, 1827) - Breeds Australia and eastern Solomon Islands, migrating to Solomon Islands, New Guinea and surrounding islands, Talaud and Sunda Islands, Indonesia and Borneo in winter.
vagans (Lesson, R, 1828) - New Zealand, Kermadec, Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands.
canocorum (Brasil, 1916) - New Caledonia and Isle of Pines.
macmillani (Mayr, 1940) - Loyalty Island.
recurvirostris Lafresnaye, 1842 - Western Samoa (Apolima, Upolu and Savai'i). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Flat-billed Kingfisher (Todiramphus recurvirostris).
norfolkiensis (Tristram, 1885) - Norfolk I.

Similar Species
In mangroves with Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) which is larger and has whiter underparts, Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius) which has a streaky cap, white underparts and a pale orange-tan lower back and rump and Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii) which has bluer upperparts, a white wing bar, visible in flight and whiter underparts.

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References
See References.

The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9

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