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Blue-black Kingfisher

Todiramphus nigrocyaneus

Near Threatened · IUCN Red List

NTNear ThreatenedOmnivoreForestSmall · 54 g
Blue-black Kingfisher (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus), photo 1
Photo: Кирилл · CC BY 4.0
Blue-black Kingfisher (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus), photo 2
Photo: Кирилл · CC BY 4.0
Blue-black Kingfisher (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus), photo 3
Photo: Zara · CC BY 4.0
Blue-black Kingfisher (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus), photo 4
Photo: Zara · CC BY 4.0
Blue-black Kingfisher (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus), photo 5
Photo: Kirill Petrov · CC BY 4.0
Blue-black Kingfisher (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus), photo 6
Photo: Kirill Petrov · CC BY 4.0
Blue-black Kingfisher (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus), photo 7
Photo: Zara · CC BY 4.0
Blue-black Kingfisher (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus), photo 8
Photo: Zara · CC BY 4.0
Blue-black Kingfisher (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus), photo 9
Photo: Zara · CC BY 4.0

ID tip

The blue-black kingfisher is 23 cm (9.1 inches) long and weighs 51–57 grams (1.8–2.0 ounces). Black face, blue crown and bright white throat are characteristic. Underparts of males vary geographically, some with rufous or dark bellies and a white crescent. Females have white belly. Perches in the understory, scanning below for its prey of fish or crabs. Very difficult to see. Somewhat similar to azure kingfisher, but blue-black kingfisher is distinctly larger with a dark chest or chest band. Call, a short nasal series "weeh-wiwiwi!

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Blue-black Kingfisher

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 7 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Blue-black Kingfisher

Regular range

The map shades 2 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Indonesia Papua New Guinea

About the Blue-black Kingfisher

The blue-black kingfisher is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. A medium-sized kingfisher of mangroves and forested streams in the lowlands. It is found in New Guinea and offshore islands of Salawati, Batanta and Yapen. It is considered rare and declining with threats being logging of lowland swamp forests and declining water quality.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Rusty-capped KingfisherTodiramphus pelewensisThe rusty-capped kingfisher or Palau kingfisher is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. Society Kingfisher (Todiramphus veneratus) Society KingfisherTodiramphus veneratusThe Society kingfisher is around 21 cm (8.3 in) in overall length. Flat-billed Kingfisher (Todiramphus recurvirostris) Flat-billed KingfisherTodiramphus recurvirostrisThe flat-billed kingfisher is a compact bird characterized by a comparatively short, shallow, and wide bill.

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