Indigo-banded kingfisher

Indigo-banded kingfisher
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Subfamily: Alcedininae
Genus: Ceyx
Species: C. cyanopectus
Binomial name
Ceyx cyanopectus
Lafresnaye, 1840
Synonyms
  • Alcedo cyanopecta Lafresnaye, 1840 [orth. error]
  • Alcedo cyanopectus

The indigo-banded kingfisher (Ceyx cyanopectus) is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is endemic to the Philippines, where it is a generally uncommon but locally common resident of the northern and central islands. There are two subspecies, the nominate race, which occurs on Luzon, Polillo, Mindoro, Sibuyan and Ticao, and C. c. nigriostris, which is found in Panay, Negros and Cebu. It forms a superspecies with the southern silvery kingfisher of the southern Philippines.[2]

The indigo-banded kingfisher feeds on fish and aquatic insects. It perches on rocks and overhanging branches and foliage and dives steeply into the water to catch its prey. Once caught, it returns the prey to the perch where it is beaten and swallowed. Little is known about its breeding behaviour, although it is known to nest in tunnels dug into the banks of streams and rivers.[2]

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Alcedo cyanopectus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 Woodall, Peter (2001), "Family Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)", in del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi, Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 6, Mousebirds to Hornbills, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 103–187, ISBN 978-84-87334-30-6


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