Kofiau paradise kingfisher

The Kofiau paradise kingfisher (Tanysiptera ellioti) is a tree kingfisher belonging to the family Alcedinidae, subfamily Halcyoninae.

Kofiau paradise kingfisher
Tanysiptera ellioti
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Subfamily: Halcyoninae
Genus: Tanysiptera
Species:
T. ellioti
Binomial name
Tanysiptera ellioti
Sharpe, 1870

Taxonomy

This little-known bird is sometimes considered a subspecies of the common paradise kingfisher (T. galatea), but it is morphologically distinct and del Hoyo lists it as a separate species.[2]

Distribution
Illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans

This species is endemic to the Indonesian island Kofiau, off the west coast of New Guinea. [1][3]

Habitat

The Kofiau paradise kingfisher inhabits primary forest, tall secondary forest and subtropical/tropical moist lowlands. The species is also common in lightly wooded village gardens.[1]

Description

The Kofiau paradise kingfisher is about 34 cm (13.4 in) long including its elongated tail feathers, reaching 10–11 cm (3.9–4.3 in). The head and upper parts of both male and female are dark blue and the rump, tail and underparts are white. The central tail feathers are long and tapering. The bill is scarlet.[2] [4]

Biology

It feeds on insects and worms that it catches on the ground.

References
Wikispecies has information related to Kofiau paradise kingfisher.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tanysiptera ellioti.
  1. BirdLife International (2022). "Tanysiptera ellioti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T22683582A209894634. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  2. Woodall, P.F. del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). "Kofiau Paradise-kingfisher (Tanysiptera carolinae)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  3. Bird Life International
  4. Bruce M. Beehler, Thane K. Pratt: Birds of New Guinea; Distribution, Taxonomy, and Systematics. Princeton University Press, Princeton 2016, ISBN 978-0-691-16424-3


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