The Sacred Kingfisher is a medium sized kingfisher. It has a turquoise back, turquoise blue rump and tail, buff-white underparts and a broad cream collar. There is a broad black eye stripe extending from bill to nape of neck. Both sexes are similar, although the female is generally lighter with duller upper parts. Young birds are similar to the female, but have varying amounts of rusty-brown edging to feathers on the collar and underparts, and buff edges on the wing coverts.
Not Threatened.
The Sacred Kingfisher is a medium sized kingfisher. It has a turquoise back, turquoise blue rump and tail, buff-white underparts and a broad cream collar. There is a broad black eye stripe extending from bill to nape of neck. Both sexes are similar, although the female is generally lighter with duller upper parts. Young birds are similar to the female, but have varying amounts of rusty-brown edging to feathers on the collar and underparts, and buff edges on the wing coverts.
VOICE: The VOICE of the Sacred Kingfisher is a loud "ek ek ek ek" repeated continuously throughout breeding season. Birds also give a "kee kee kee" in excitement and a series of chirring, scolding notes when alarmed.
19-24 cm
Taxonomy:
- Halcyon sanctus Vigors and Horsfield, 1827, New South Wales. Genus often merged into Halcyon. Forms a superspecies with T. australasia, T. tutus, T. veneratus, T. gambieri and T. godeffroyi; has been considered conspecific with T. australasia. Race recurvirostris sometimes considered a full species, but its characteristic flattened bill seems to represent the extreme of a trend seen in macmillani; subspecific treatment thus appears more appropriate. Races regina, vitiensis and eximius of T. chloris sometimes considered to belong in present species. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * sanctus ( Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, and possibly also E Solomons (Guadalcanal, San Cristobal); migrates to Indonesia and Melanesia. * vagans ( Lesson, 1830) - Lord Howe I, Norfolk I, Kermadec Is and New Zealand. * canacorum ( Brasil, 1916) - New Caledonia and I of Pines. * macmillani ( Mayr, 1940) - Loyalty Is. * recurvirostris Lafresnaye, 1842 - Apolima, Upolu and Savaii (Western Samoa). * sanctus ( Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) - Australia, and possibly also E Solomons (Guadalcanal, San Cristobal); migrates to Indonesia and Melanesia. * vagans ( Lesson, 1830) - Lord Howe I, Norfolk I, Kermadec Is and New Zealand. * canacorum ( Brasil, 1916) - New Caledonia and I of Pines. * macmillani ( Mayr, 1940) - Loyalty Is. * recurvirostris Lafresnaye, 1842 - Apolima, Upolu and Savaii (Western Samoa).
Inhabits woodlands, mangroves and paperbark forests, tall open eucalypt forest and melaleuca forest.
Sacred Kingfishers forage mainly on the land, only occasionally capturing prey in the water. They feed on crustaceans, reptiles, insects and their larvae and, infrequently, fish. The birds perch on low exposed branch on the lookout for prey. Once prey is located, the Sacred Kingfisher swoops down and grasps it in its bill, returning to the perch to eat it.
For most of the year Sacred Kingfishers are mainly solitary, pairing only for the breeding season. Usually two clutches are laid in a season. Both sexes excavate the nest, which is normally a burrow in a termite mound, hollow branch or river bank. The nest chamber is unlined and can be up to 20m above the ground. Both sexes also incubate the eggs and care for the young. Breeding season: September to December; occasionally extended to March, if conditions are favourable. Clutch size: 3 to 6 Incubation: 18 days Time in nest: 26 days