Micronesian Kingfisher

(Todiramphus cinnamominus (Halcyon cinnamomina))


Facts

Micronesian Kingfisher IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

 

Facts about this animal

The Micronesian kingfisher is one of the smaller representatives of the genus Todiramphus. It has a head-body length of 15+ cm, with a wingspan of 20 cm. Males weigh about 60 g, females 58-74 g

 

Micronesian kingfishers have a large head, a short neck and tail, weak feet, and a straight,strong bill that is flattened on the top and bottom. Both sexes have a chestnut head, greenish-blue body, and blue tail. The males' breast is rusty cinnamon, and the females' is white.

Both, male and female, participate in excavating nest hollows in a coconut palm or other tall tree, several metres above ground. A pair may control several howws but will use only one. The clutch consists of usually 2 eggs. Both parents feed the chicks.

Micronesian kingfishers are ambush hunters, sitting on a tree branch and waiting for small prey animals to pass by. This behaviour makes themselves easy prey for snakes. They have been observed to feed primarily on grasshoppers, small lizards, annelids, insects, hermit crabs, other small crustaceans, and occasionally small mammals and young birds

Did you know?
hat the Guam kingfisher (Halcyon cinnamomina cinnamomina) population was decimated after the arrival of the brown tree snake on Guam? After World War II, brown tree snakes were accidentally introduced to the island. By 1984 the Guam kingfisher had become almost extinct.


 

Factsheet
Class AVES
Order CORACIIFORMES
Suborder ALCEDINES
Family ALCEDINIDAE
Name (Scientific) Todiramphus cinnamominus (Halcyon cinnamomina)
Name (English) Micronesian Kingfisher
Name (French) Martin-chasseur cannelle
Name (German) Zimtkopfliest
Name (Spanish) Alción Micronesio
CITES Status Not listed
CMS Status Not listed

 

 

Photo Copyright by
Ryan Somma

Distribution

 


Distribution
Range Micronesia, Palau Subspecies T. c. cinnamominus (formerly Guam) exists today only in zoos
Habitat Forests, woodlands, mangrove swamps
Wild population Unknown. Subspecies H. c. cinnamomina is extinct in the wild
Zoo population Approx. 65

In the Zoo

Micronesian Kingfisher

 

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 11F of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

 

Find this animal on ZooLex

 

Photo Copyright by
Christian Schmidt

Why do zoos keep this animal

Faced with imminent extinction in the wild, Guam's Department of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources and several institutions captured the last 29 kingfishers between 1984 and 1986. An AZA Species Survival Plan was established with the long-term target of buolding up an ex situ population of 200 burds kepot by 25 different institutions.