Sacred Kingfisher

Todiramphus sanctus

Description

Todiramphus sanctus has a medium body size which is 22 cm. This species is similar to Todiramphus chloris, but is more dull in color, and the body size is slightly smaller. The blue part is more greenish in this species. The chest color is slightly yellow or rust red (not pure white). The iris is brown, with a black beak, and light gray legs.

Population Size

Unknown

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

28 - 61 grams in males while females 28 - 56 grams

LENGTH

20 – 23 cm

Di

Diurnal

In

Insectivorest

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Chordata

CLASS

:

Aves

ORDER

:

Coraciiformes

FAMILY

:

Alcedinidae

GENUS

:

Todiramphus

SPECIES

:

Todiramphus sanctus

Distribution

Todiramphus sanctus has habitats on the coast, mangroves, ponds.

Geography

Continent : Asia

Country : Breed: Australia and Migrants: Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, Bali, Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua.

Habits and Lifestyle

Todiramphus sanctus is usually seen perched on poles, mangrove trees or even on sand or mud flats and waiting for prey to pass by. It swoops down to catch its prey by landing briefly or hovering, and then returns to its perch to eat its catch by hitting and swallowing.

Lifestyle

–

Biome

Wetland

Climate Zone

Tropical

Diet and Nutrition

Todiramphus sanctus feeds on a wide variety of invertebrates (mainly insects and spiders), small crustaceans, fish (rare), frogs, small rodents and reptiles, and there have been several reports of them eating finches and other small birds.

Diet : Insektivora

Mating Habits

The breeding season for this species is August to March (mostly September to January). After a pair of birds have mated, they will then make a nest, which is a hole in the river bank, a hole in a large branch or a termite mound. The female lays 3 to 6 round eggs with a shiny white color, measuring 25 mm x 22 mm, which are incubated for 17-18 days by both parents. After hatching the two parents feed the chicks for up to 4 weeks, and for the next 7-10 days the chicks are grown.

Reproduction session : August to March (mostly September to January).

Incubation periods: 17 – 18 days

Independent age : after 4 weeks

Baby name : –

Baby carrying : 3 – 6 eggs

Population

Population status : Least Concern (LC)

NE

DD

LC

NT

VU

EN

CR

EW

EX

Population number​

Todiramphus sanctus has a wide distribution and the population trend is increasing, and it is classed as Least concern on the IUCN Red List.

PHOTO GALLERY

Reference

  1. Cekakak Suci on Wikipedia article 
  2. Sacred Kingfisher on Wikipedia article 
  3. MacKinnon, J. 1991 . Fields Guide to the Birds Of Java and Bali. Gadjah Mada University Press. Yogyakarta.