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Grey-headed Kingfisher

From Opus

Photo by John Dempsey East Tsavo reserve, Kenya
Photo by John Dempsey
East Tsavo reserve, Kenya
Halcyon leucocephala

Contents

[edit] Identification

Length 20-21 cm. A medium-sized kingfisher with a grey head and chestnut belly.

[edit] Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa and Arabian Peninsula.

[edit] Taxonomy

Halcyon leucocephala has five subspecies:[1]

H. l. acteon
H. l. semicaerulea
H. l. leucocephala
H. l. hyacinthina
H. l. pallidiventris

[edit] Habitat

Non-aquatic; woodland and savanna.

Immature Grey-headed KingfisherPhoto by MybsKruger National Park, South Africa
Immature Grey-headed Kingfisher
Photo by Mybs
Kruger National Park, South Africa

[edit] Behaviour

Feeds mainly on insects taken on or near the ground; also eats fish, frogs, reptiles, small mammals and birds (including Bronze Mannikin, Red-throated Wryneck and chicks of Red-billed Quelea, White-eared Barbet and Black-collared Barbet).

[edit] References

  1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.

[edit] External Links

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