T he
Yellow-billed Kingfisher (Syma torotoro) is a medium-sized (length 20
cm, wingspan 29 cm, weight 40 g) tree kingfisher. Colouring is
distinctive: orange head and neck with black nape patch and white
throat. Adult females also have black crown patch. Upper mantle blackish
grading to olive green on back, blue-green on rump and blue tail.
Upperwing dull green-blue with flight feathers dark olive-black.
Underparts pale orange-grey. Bill orange-yellow in adults, dark grey in
juveniles.
Widespread throughout lowland New Guinea and adjacent islands, extending
to northern Cape York Peninsula in Australia, the Yellow-billed
Kingfisher may be found in Rainforest, monsoon forest and forest edges.
Conservation
With a large range and no evidence of significant decline, the
conservation status of this species is assessed as being of Least
Concern.
Diet
Large insects, earthworms and lizards.
Breeding
Nest in excavated chamber in arboreal termite nest, laying clutch of
3-4 white eggs.
Voice
Loud, repeated whistling trills, mainly in breeding season. |
