Red List Category Click here for more information about the Red List categories and criteria Justification of Red List categoryThis species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern. Population size: unknown Population trend: Stable Extent of occurrence (breeding/resident): 20,100,000 km2 Country endemic: No
This is a medium-sized kingfisher, 23 cm (9.1 in) in length. The adult has a bright blue back, wing panel and tail. Its head, neck and underparts are white, and its shoulders are black. The flight of the woodland kingfisher is rapid and direct. The large bill has a red upper mandible and black lower mandible. The legs and feet are dark grey. Some birds may have greyish heads, causing confusion with mangrove kingfisher.
All about the woodland kingfisher
However, the lores are dark, creating a dark stripe through the eye (the stripe does not extend through the eye in mangrove kingfisher), and the underwing, primaries and secondaries are black with white underwing coverts (there is a black carpal patch on the white coverts in mangrove kingfisher). The inner webs of the base of the flight feathers are white, creating an indistinct white wingbar (white completely absent from wings in mangrove kingfisher). The breast is white (tends to be much greyer in mangrove kingfisher). The sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller than adults and have a brown bill.
The woodland kingfisher is widely distributed in tropical Africa south of the Sahara and from Pretoria northwards. This kingfisher is essentially resident within 8 of the equator, but northern and southern populations are migratory, moving into the equatorial zone in the dry season.
It is a common species of a variety of wooded habitats with some trees, especially Acacias, including around human habitation. Although it is a "kingfisher", it prefers drier habitats in more traditional woodland and can be far from water. It is often solitary but can occur in small groups.
AppearanceThe Woodland Kingfisher is a medium-sized kingfisher, around 23 cm. It has a large bill with a black lower mandible and a red upper mandible. The adult has black shoulders, with a white head and neck. The wing panels, back and tail are a bright blue. The feet and legs are dull grey in colour. The juvenile has a brown bill.The Woodland Kingfisher can often be confused with the mangrove kingfisher. The woodland kingfisher has a dark strip through the eye, where it does not extend through the eye with the mangrove kingfisher. When flying, the woodland kingfisher has a white wingbar that is absent from the mangrove kingfisher. The mangrove kingfisher has an all red bill.
Woodland Kingfisher DietThe Woodland Kingfisher is an insectivore, but will take small vertebrates like snakes, and frogs. They have been known to feed on small birds. The woodland kingfisher is not one of the fishing kingfishers.
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The woodland kingfisher, or Halcyon senegalensis as it is scientifically known as, belongs to the Alcedinidae family and genus Halcyon. This kingfisher can be found in Africa. These birds prefer to live within 8 degrees of the equator. This kingfisher prefers drier habitats. It can be found in wooded areas like woodlands. They prefer trees in their habitat and have a special preference for the Acacias plant. The breeding season for this kingfisher occurs from November to March in Transvaal and the breeding season happens from November to January in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. To attract mates, kingfishers produce calls and displays, especially to show their white linings under their wings. The nest of this bird is in holes made by woodpeckers. In the nest, around 2-3 round and shiny white eggs are laid and incubated for about 13-14 days. The woodland kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis, has a blue-colored back, wings, and tail. The head and neck are white in color. Some of them have grayish heads and are often confused with the mangrove kingfisher. The primary and secondary underwings are black in color and have white coverts. Juveniles have dull colors and a brown bill which is different from the bill of adults. The woodland kingfisher is often solitary but can be spotted in small groups. It is a noisy kingfisher and its call is a loud trill that has a shrill sound. The calling is more prominent during the breeding season. It has an interesting way or strategy of seeking food and its food or diet includes insects, arthropods, and sometimes fish, crabs, and frogs. It is quite interesting to know about the woodland kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis, and if you are interested, read these belted kingfisher facts and common kingfisher facts too.
These birds prefer to live within eight degrees of the equator. This kingfisher prefers drier habitats. It can be found in wooded areas like woodlands. They prefer trees in their habitat and have a special preference for the Acacias plant.
The breeding season for these birds occurs from November to March in Transvaal and from November to January in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Some of the birds travel or migrate to the Southern part of Africa from October to April to reproduce or breed or mate. These birds are known to be quite vocal during this time and have displays with calls and wing gestures to display white linings under the wings. The nest of these birds are holes made by woodpeckers or sometimes can be an old nest of swifts. Around three shiny, white eggs. Incubation of the eggs takes place for about 13-14 days. The chicks or the juveniles are taken care of or raised by both males and females and these juveniles or the young ones fledge at about 15-22 or days of age. Juveniles have duller plumage than adults and they have a brown bill, unlike the adults.
This medium-sized kingfisher has a bright blue-colored back, wings, and tail but the shoulders of this bird are black. The head, neck, and underparts or inner sides are white in color. The breasts of this bird are also white in color. Some of them have grayish heads. The color of the legs and feet is dark gray. The primary and secondary underwings are black in color and have white coverts. This kingfisher has a large bill and this large bill has a red and black mandible. The upper mandible is red and the lower one is black in color. There is a dark stripe through the eye of this kingfisher. Both males and females look similar and the juveniles and the young ones are more dull-colored than the adults and are known to have a brown bill.
This bird feeds on different variety of insects and is also known to eat or feed on arthropods, snakes, and even fish and frogs. Fish and crabs are very rare in this kingfisher's diet or food as this kingfisher does not dive in the water to hunt fish. This kingfisher, for hunting or preying or seeking food sits in a semi-shade area on a dead branch of a tree. This is unlike other kingfishers like the giant kingfisher who dive into the water for their food.
It is believed that the blue color of the woodland kingfisher and other kingfishers' feathers is not a result of any pigment or something instead it is because of the striking of light on specially modified layers or structures of cells of feathers.
Around 12 species of kingfishers are found in the Indian Subcontinent. Some of them include the blue-eared kingfisher, common kingfisher, pied kingfisher, ruddy kingfisher, brown-winged kingfisher, stork-billed kingfisher. Species can be found in the foothills of the Himalayas, Eastern, and the Western Ghats. Out of the 12 species of kingfishers found in India, eight of them are found in South India.
Kingfishers are considered to be special because almost all the species of kingfishers have bright and colorful plumage. Most of the species are found in tropical habitats and some of them are found in forests.
These eye-catching birds nest in holes in trees, and will compete fiercely for premium nesting sites with kingfishers, other birds and small mammals. They tend to prefer large single trees with good leaf cover that stand out in the open. There is a nesting site on the Welgevonden Reserve that was observed for over a year. Bees, squirrels and green wood hoopoes occupied the space whilst the woodland kingfishers were away, but sadly, they did not return to this site to breed again this year. Perhaps next year? You never know.
When it comes to laying eggs, the woodland kingfisher usually lays three in the tree hole or hollow, with no additional lining. These birds are monogamous and because of the extended parental care of up to five weeks after leaving the nest, they are believed to be single brooded, meaning they have one clutch or family during the breeding season. The young grow quickly and leave the nest after around 18 to 24 days. They feed mainly on insects, mostly locusts, cicadas and butterflies, but they will also hunt small fish, frogs, lizards and small snakes. There have been records of them feeding on birds prey too, including nestlings of the black-collared barbet and red-billed quelea. 2ff7e9595c
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