Collared Kingfisher
Todiramphus chloris
The Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) is a uncommon kingfisher found in 29 countries, weighing about 66 g. The collared kingfisher is a medium-sized kingfisher belonging to the subfamily Halcyoninae, the tree kingfishers.
About the Collared Kingfisher
The collared kingfisher is a medium-sized kingfisher belonging to the subfamily Halcyoninae, the tree kingfishers. It is also known as the white-collared kingfisher, black-masked kingfisher or mangrove kingfisher. It has a wide range extending from the Red Sea across southern Asia to Melanesia. A number of subspecies and subspecies groups have been split from this species including the Pacific kingfisher, the Islet kingfisher, the Torresian kingfisher, the Mariana kingfisher, and the Melanesian kingfisher.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The collared kingfisher is 23 to 25 cm (9.1 to 9.8 in) long and the male weighs 51 to 90 g (1.8 to 3.2 oz), while the female weighs 54–100 g (1.9–3.5 oz). It varies from blue to green above while the underparts can be white or buff. There is a white collar around the neck, giving the bird its name. Some races have a white or buff stripe over the eye while others have a white spot between the eye and bill. There may be a black stripe through the eye. The large bill is black with a pale yellow base to the lower mandible. Females tend to be greener than the males.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Japan, China, Northern Mariana Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Wallis & Futuna.
When to see it
The Collared Kingfisher can be seen all year round, with peak activity in March. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Collared Kingfisher?
- The collared kingfisher is 23 to 25 cm (9.1 to 9.8 in) long and the male weighs 51 to 90 g (1.8 to 3.2 oz), while the female weighs 54–100 g (1.9–3.5 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Collared Kingfisher?
- The Collared Kingfisher is a medium sized bird weighing about 66 g.
- Where can you see a Collared Kingfisher?
- The Collared Kingfisher occurs in 29 countries, including Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, India and Malaysia.
- What birds look similar to a Collared Kingfisher?
- The Collared Kingfisher is most easily confused with the Forest Kingfisher, the Red-backed Kingfisher and the Torresian Kingfisher.
Learn the Collared Kingfisher for real
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