Common Paradise Kingfisher
Tanysiptera galatea
The Common Paradise Kingfisher (Tanysiptera galatea) is a rare kingfisher found in 2 countries, weighing about 50 g. The common paradise kingfisher, also known as the Galatea paradise kingfisher and the racquet-tailed kingfisher, is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae.
About the Common Paradise Kingfisher
The common paradise kingfisher, also known as the Galatea paradise kingfisher and the racquet-tailed kingfisher, is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is found in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests of the Maluku Islands and New Guinea. Like all paradise kingfishers, it has a red bill and colourful plumage. The species is common and the IUCN has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This kingfisher has a red bill, a dark turquoise cap with brighter blue edges, blackish cheeks, and bluish-black upper parts. The under parts are white and the under-wing coverts are blue and white. The central tail feathers are elongated and their base is blue. It is similar in appearance to the buff-breasted paradise kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) apart from the colour of the breast, and in some parts of Papua New Guinea, both birds coexist.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Common Paradise Kingfisher?
- This kingfisher has a red bill, a dark turquoise cap with brighter blue edges, blackish cheeks, and bluish-black upper parts. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Common Paradise Kingfisher?
- The Common Paradise Kingfisher is a small sized bird weighing about 50 g.
- Where can you see a Common Paradise Kingfisher?
- The Common Paradise Kingfisher occurs in 2 countries, including Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
- What birds look similar to a Common Paradise Kingfisher?
- The Common Paradise Kingfisher is most easily confused with the Brown-headed Paradise Kingfisher, the Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher and the Biak Paradise Kingfisher.
- Is the Common Paradise Kingfisher endangered?
- The Common Paradise Kingfisher is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
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