Overview

Micronesian Kingfisher (Palau): The Palau subspecies, Rusty-capped Kingisher is a small to medium kingfisher with orange-buff crown, green-blue back, wings, and tail, white collar and underparts. Black mask goes back to nape in thin line. Medium wings and narrow, rectangular tail. Heavy bill black-gray above, pink-brown below, slightly upturned mandible. Female and juveniles like male but paler crown.

Voice Text

"schee-schee-schee-kree-ee-ek, kree-ee-ek"

• The calls of the Micronesian Kingfisher vary depending on their island of origin. On the island of Palau they make a quiet, chattering "che-che-che, che-kreek, kreek, kreek".
• The Guam Kingfisher, a recognized subspecies, is in a captive breeding program. Due to the introduction of the brown tree snake, this bird became extinct in the wild.
• The Palauan name of these birds is "Cherosech" or "Ongelimadech."
• A group of kingfishers is collectively known as a "concentration" and a "realm" of kingfishers.

• Collared Kingfisher
• Ruddy Kingfisher

Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)

ORDER

The taxonomic order CORACIIFORMES (pronounced ko-rah-kee-ih-FOR-meez) is composed of six families of colorful birds such as the motmots, rollers, todies, and kingfishers.

SOUTH PACIFIC-PALAU

Ten species of kingfishers in two genera occur in the South Pacific. Two species in one genus occur in Palau.

FAMILY TAXONOMY

The Alcedinidae (pronounced al-she-DIN-uh-dee) is composed of ninety-five species of kingfishers in eighteen genera found on most continents and many Pacific Islands.

KNOWN FOR

Like most other members of its family, the Belted Kingfisher is known for its fishing behavior and loud rattling call that is an auditory component of lakes and rivers throughout North America.

PHYSICAL

Although kingfishers in North America can be as small as a thrush or larger than a pigeon, they are all similarly shaped with medium length tails, medium length pointed wings, and a large, crested head. The bills of kingfishers are heavy and look oversized, while their legs are short with small toes, the outer two joined almost to the end (a trait shared by other members of the Coraciiformes).

COLORATION

While many kingfishers in other parts of the world are brilliantly colored in glittering blues, orange and red, the North American species have duller plumages of slate gray, rufous, white, and jade green.

GEOGRAPHIC HABITAT

The widespread Belted Kingfisher is found throughout North America except for the tundra of the far north. Other species have mostly tropical distributions, with just two others occurring in the United States in southern Texas. All three species in the United States utilize aquatic habitats such as lakes, rivers, streams, and estuaries.

MIGRATION

The Belted Kingfisher undertakes both short and long distance migrations to the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.

HABITS

Outside of the breeding season kingfishers are solitary birds that forage alone. They have a very distinctive manner of foraging for fish by diving head first into the water. While the smaller Green Kingfisher often does this from a perch, the Belted and Ringed Kingfishers typically hover above the water to watch for prey. Like other Coraciiformes, kingfishers nest in tunnels dug into the banks of streams, rivers, and lakes.

CONSERVATION

In North America, kingfishers are fairly common, non-threatened bird species.

INTERESTING FACTS

Kingfishers are birds quite adapted to their aquatic habitats, their eyes having specially adapted lenses for focusing both in and out of the water. They also won’t hesitate to dive into the water to escape a predator.

Artist

Michael Oberhofer