BIRDS OF BANDHAVGARH

KINGFISHERS

COMMON KINGFISHER

PIED KINGFSIHER

Ceryle rudis

WHITE-BREASTED KINGFISHER

Halcyon smyrnensis

SPECIES INFORMATION:

Eggs: 6-10
Incubation: 18-21 days
Fledging: 23-24 days
Length: 16-19 cm
Wingspan: 24-26 cm
Weight: 35-40g

SPECIES INFORMATION:

Eggs: 3-6
Incubation: 18 days
Fledging: 25 days
Length: 25-29 cm
Wingspan: 13-14cm
Weight: 82-87g

SPECIES INFORMATION:

Eggs: 4-7
Incubation: ? days
Fledging: ? days
Length: 28 cm
Wingspan:? cm
Weight: ? g

DESCRIPTION

The beautiful iridescent plumage of the kingfisher makes it one of our most colourful and instantly recognisable birds; despite this it is rarely seen due to its shy nature. The upperparts are bright blue, while the underparts are a rich chestnut-red, although if seen in flight these colours may not be obvious. The bill is very long and dagger-like. Although the sexes are generally similar, in breeding pairs they can be distinguished by the bill; in females it has a red base, whereas in males it is completely black. Although similar to adults, juveniles have duller, greener plumage. Common kingfishers have a lifespand of 5-10 years.

DESCRIPTION

This is an uncommon, black and white crested Kingfisher. It is piscivorous and fishes either from a height by hovering over open water or from a perch. It is the largest bird that is capable of a true hover in still air and this hunting method means that, unlike the closely related Giant Kingfisher, it is not dependent on there being extensive woodland within its home range.

The sexes are very similar and are only distinguished by the presence of 2 full breast bands (one broad and one narrow) in the male whereas the female has a single incomplete breast band. Loud shrill call draws attention.

DESCRIPTION

A brilliant turquoise blue with deep chocolate-brown head, neck and under parts, a long bright red ‘kingfisher-like’ bill and white front catches immediate attention. It is very fond of fish, tadpoles, grasshoppers, lizards and insects. Like pied kingfisher, white breasted kingfisher also observes its prey from the superior position and the moment its within reach, a flash of lightening it catches it.

The nesting season is from March to July. The nest is a horizontal tunnel like structure dug in a precipitous mud-bank of the stream, where four to seven white spherical eggs are laid.

Diet

DIET

Pied kingfishers primarily eat fish. Unlike other kingfishers, pied kingfishers swallow their fish in flight after plunging. Pied kingfishers may also take aquatic insects, crustaceans, and, more rarely, amphibians and mollusks

DIET

While hunting along the water, they prey on crabs, amphibians (frogs) and reptiles (skinks, lizards). On land, they hunt large insects and arthropods (grasshoppers, beetles, termites, scorpions, centipedes). They beat these against their perch to kill and remove venomous stings. They even take small mammals (rats, mice, voles), snakes up to 65cm long, and nestling birds.

HABITAT

May inhabit all types of fresh water, including ponds, canals, rivers, and streams. It may also exploit brackish waters on the coast and marshes. In Bandhavgarh they can be seen flitting up and down the rivers and across the fords. If you have keen eyesight you might be able to see kingfishers perched on branches before they are scared off by the jeep.

HABITAT

Frequents all kinds of fresh water, usually open pools nesting in banks of streams.

HABITAT

Both the sexes are alike and pairs can be seen near ponds, streams, dense jungles etc. In fact the bird can be seen both near and away from water bodies. The bird is found in plains and lower hills all over India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

WHERE TO LOOK

WHERE TO LOOK

Buffer zone waterholes near the Gohri gate

Where to look

Its a very common bird all over the park but for a closer view try: Ford before the gate in Tala; Ford at the start of route C; Flood pool at start of Chakradhara meadow; The isolated trees in the Chakradhara and Rajbhera meadows