Animalia Life

Todiramphus chloris
SUBFAMILY
Halcyoninae
TAXONOMY
Alcedo chloris Boddaert, 1783, Buru. Exact taxonomy incomplete, at least 49 subspecies described.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Black-masked/white-collared kingfisher; French: Martin- chasseur а collier blanc; German: Halsbandliest; Spanish: Alciуn Acollarado.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
9–10 in (23–25 cm), 1.8–3.5 oz (51–100 g). Small kingfisher, generally blue-green above, white or buff below and on collar. Mask, feet and bill black, latter with yellow base. Much local variation across wide, fragmented, and insular range, mainly in intensity of colors and of white or rufous on head.
DISTRIBUTION
Red Sea east to China, Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia, and many adjacent oceanic islands, reaching Andamans, Marianas, Fiji, and Tonga, among others.
HABITAT
Mainly coastal in mangroves and estuaries, but extends inland along major rivers and into adjacent forests and croplands. Widest habitat tolerance on some islands, up to 4,900 ft (1,500 m) above sea level on Java and Sumatra.
BEHAVIOR
Calls with two to five shrill notes from perch or in flight. Perches for long periods in the open, usually below 9 ft (3 m). Nocturnal migrant in some areas.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Dives from perch to ground, mud, or into water after prey. Eats wide range of small animals, along coasts mainly fish and crustacea, inland includes more insects in diet. Known to follow otters for any prey they might disturb.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Lays two to five eggs in cavity excavated by both members of monogamous pair in dead wood, earth bank, arboreal termitarium or even fern roots, less often natural tree hole or old woodpecker nest. Incubation about 14 days, nestling period 29–30 days.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. Wide
DISTRIBUTION
, common or even abundant in many areas, range extends into areas of cultivation. Suffers from local habitat destruction in some areas, especially on small islands with distinctive subspecies.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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