The Life of Birds | White-throated Kingfisher | Halcyon Smyrnensis

White-throated kingfisher, also known as the white-breasted kingfisher is a tree kingfisher, widely distributed in Asia from the Sinai east through the Indian subcontinent to the Philippines. This kingfisher is a resident over much of its range, although some populations may make short-distance movements. It can often be found well away from water where it feeds on a wide range of prey that includes small reptiles, amphibians, crabs, small rodents, and even birds. This is a large kingfisher, 27-28 cm in length. The adult has a bright blue back, wings and tail. Its head, shoulders, flanks and lower belly are chestnut, and the throat and breast are white. The large bill and legs are bright red. The flight of the white-throated kingfisher is rapid and direct, the short rounded wings In flight, large white patches are visible on the blue and black wings. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are a duller version of the adult. White-throated kingfisher is a common species of a variety of habitats, mostly open country in the plains with trees, wires, or other perches. The range of the species is expanding, but has been seen at 7,500 feet in the Himalayas. It perches conspicuously on wires or other exposed perches within its territory, and is a frequent sight in South Asia. This species mainly hunts large crustaceans, insects, earthworms, rodents, snakes, fish, and frogs. Predation of small birds such as the Indian white-eye, chick of a red-whittled lapwing, sparrows, and munyas have been reported. The young are fed mostly on invertebrates. In captivity, it has been noted that it rarely drinks water although bathing regularly. The white-throated kingfisher begins breeding at the onset of the monsoons. Males perch on prominent high posts in their territory and call in the early morning. The tail may be flicked now and in its courtship display the wings are stiffly flicked open for a second or two exposing the white-wing mirrors. They also raise their bill high and display the white throat and front. The female in invitation makes a rapid and prolonged kit-kit-kit call. The nest is a tunnel in an earth bank. The nest building begins with both birds flying into a suitable mud wall until an indentation is made where they can find a perch hold. They subsequently perch and continue digging the nest with their bills. Nest tunnels in a haystack have also been recorded. A single clutch of four to seven round white eggs is typical. The eggs take 20 to 22 days to hatch while the chicks fledge in 19 days. Birds have sometimes been seen attracted to lights at night, especially during the monsoon season, suggesting that they are partly migratory. With a powerful bill and rapid flight, these kingfishers have few predators when healthy and rare cases of predation by a black kite and a jungle crow may be of sick or injured birds. An individual found dead with its beak embedded into the wood of a tree has been suggested as an accident during rapid pursuit of prey, possibly an Indian white-eye. A few parasites have been noted. In the 1800s these birds were hunted for their bright feathers that were used to adorn hats. It is the state bird of West Bengal, India. This kingfisher is widespread and populations are not threatened. Average density of 4.58 individuals per kilometer square.