About the Mewing Kingfisher
The mewing kingfisher or Mangaia kingfisher, known locally as the tanga'eo, is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae, or kingfisher family. It is endemic to Mangaia in the Cook Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and plantations.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The mewing kingfisher is 22 cm (8.7 in) in length, with blue-green forehead and crown; light turquoise ear-coverts; orange-buff superciliary buff, nape, and upper mantle; deep turquoise back, rump, and uppertail-coverts; deep blue tail (underside blackish); entirely white underparts (except for orange-buff across upper chest); mostly black bill and iris; mostly black legs with light yellow soles. The orange-buff suffusion across the upper chest is more pronounced in females.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Tuamotu KingfisherTodiramphus gambieriThe Mangareva kingfisher has a cream-coloured head and neck, with blue ear-coverts, a white chin and frequently a rufous band across the breast.
Marquesan KingfisherTodiramphus godeffroyiThis unique bird is approximately 22 cm (9 in) tall with a buff triangle on its upper back.
Islet KingfisherTodiramphus colonusThe islet kingfisher is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae.
Learn the Mewing Kingfisher for real
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