Chocolate-backed Kingfisher
Halcyon badia
The Chocolate-backed Kingfisher (Halcyon badia) is a rare kingfisher found in 14 countries, weighing about 58 g. The chocolate-backed kingfisher is a species of kingfisher in the subfamily Halcyoninae, native to the African tropical rainforest.
About the Chocolate-backed Kingfisher
The chocolate-backed kingfisher is a species of kingfisher in the subfamily Halcyoninae, native to the African tropical rainforest.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The chocolate-backed kingfisher has the typical stocky kingfisher shape with dark upper parts and pure white underparts. The head and hind neck are very dark brown, the mantle is brownish black, the back is black, the rump a brilliant iridescent blue, the upper tail coverts are black, and the tail is pale blue. The wings are dark, apart from a brilliant azure speculum formed in the outer webs of the secondary feathers. The underparts from the throat to the vent are snowy white, apart from a small blackish flank patch, and are clearly demarcated from the dark upper parts. Voice: A harsh screeching alarm note is given. The song is a high pitched, barely audible introductory "pee" followed by 12-17 long flutelike pure tones which are evenly spaced and far carrying, lasting 5–7 seconds, and sometimes falling away toward the last few notes.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in February. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Chocolate-backed Kingfisher?
- The chocolate-backed kingfisher has the typical stocky kingfisher shape with dark upper parts and pure white underparts. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Chocolate-backed Kingfisher?
- The Chocolate-backed Kingfisher is a small sized bird weighing about 58 g.
- Where can you see a Chocolate-backed Kingfisher?
- The Chocolate-backed Kingfisher occurs in 14 countries, including Ghana, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Congo - Kinshasa.
- What birds look similar to a Chocolate-backed Kingfisher?
- The Chocolate-backed Kingfisher is most easily confused with the Mangrove Kingfisher, the Javan Kingfisher and the Brown-breasted Kingfisher.
- Is the Chocolate-backed Kingfisher endangered?
- The Chocolate-backed Kingfisher is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Chocolate-backed Kingfisher for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.