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Guam Kingfisher - BirdForum Opus

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Skullwild.png The species Guam Kingfisher is extinct in the wild.
 Skullwild.png


Todiramphus cinnamominus

Identification

20 cm (7¾ in). A rather small Kingfisher.

  • Rufous head and underparts
  • Black eyestripe
  • Blue-green back, rump, wings and tail
  • Dark bill with horn-coloured base of lower mandible
  • Black legs and feet

Females have white lower breast and belly. Juveniles show a pale rufous throat, a buff belly and dusky markings on breast.

Distribution

Formerly on Guam (Mariana Island) and possibly on Miyako-Jima (Ryukyu Islands).
Extinct in the wild on Guam in 1986 due to the introduction of the Brown Tree-Snake.

Taxonomy

Formerly considered conspecific with Pohnpei Kingfisher and Rusty-capped Kingfisher under the name Micronesian Kingfisher.

This is a monotypic species[1].

The supposed subspecies T. c. miyakoensis supposedly on Miyako-Jima (Ryukyu Islands) is known only from one specimen and is no longer considered valid.

Habitat

Forests, mangrove swamps, large gardens, coconut palms and woodland in general.

Behaviour

Diet

Feeds on insects. Takes also skinks and geckos.
Perches on a low branch or wire, looking out for prey.

Breeding

Breeding season from December to July. Nests in cavities in a tall tree or a coconut palm. Lays 2 eggs.

Movements

Probably a sedentary species.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2023. IOC World Bird List (v 13.1)_red. Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.13.1. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
  3. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved October 2015)
  4. Birdforum thread discussing this taxon both from taxonomic and identification angles

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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