Brown-hooded kingfisher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brown-hooded kingfisher |
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The brown-hooded kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris) is a beautiful bird found in parts of Africa. It's known for its brown head and pretty black and turquoise wings. This bird is a type of kingfisher that lives in trees, not just near water.
You can find these kingfishers in woodlands, bushy areas, and even in gardens and parks in towns. The good news is that there are lots of them, so they are not considered in danger.
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About the Brown-Hooded Kingfisher
Scientists give every living thing a special name. The brown-hooded kingfisher's scientific name is Halcyon albiventris. This helps scientists around the world know exactly which bird they are talking about.
There are also a few slightly different types of this kingfisher, called subspecies. They might look a little different depending on where they live.
What Does It Look Like?
The brown-hooded kingfisher is about 22 centimeters (about 8.5 inches) long. That's roughly the length of a standard pencil!
- Head: It has a brown head with dark stripes.
- Neck and Back: Around its neck, there's a light brown collar. Its back is brownish-black.
- Wings: The wings are mostly brownish-black, but they have bright turquoise feathers.
- Rump: The lower back, called the rump, is a lovely azure-blue color.
- Underparts: Its chin is white, and its chest is a reddish-brown with some dark streaks. The belly is a lighter, creamy color.
- Beak and Legs: The beak is red with a brown tip, and its legs are bright red. Its eyes are dark brown.
Female brown-hooded kingfishers have darker upper parts and more streaks on their undersides than the males. Young kingfishers are usually duller in color and have a wavy pattern on their bellies.
Where Does It Live?
This kingfisher lives in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. You can find it in places like South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and many others.
They usually live in areas below 1,800 meters (about 5,900 feet) high. They like woodlands, grasslands with trees, and bushy areas. You might also spot them at the edges of forests, in farms, parks, and even in people's gardens. While they are kingfishers, they don't always live right next to water. They can live in suburban areas too! Most of these birds stay in one place, but some might move around during different seasons.
How Does It Behave?
Brown-hooded kingfishers are usually seen alone or in pairs. They are quite good at finding food on the ground.
- What they eat: Their main food is insects. But they are not picky eaters! They also munch on scorpions, small reptiles, tiny birds, rodents, and even fish. Some have been seen eating snakes and lizards as long as 25 centimeters (about 10 inches)!
- Their calls: When they sing, they vibrate their wings and make a sound like "tiiiu" or "ki-ti-ti-ti." If they are worried, they make a sharp "cheerit" sound.
- Nesting: They usually breed between September and April. They dig a nest in a burrow, often in a river bank, a gully, or the side of a road. After the young birds hatch, the whole family stays together for a few weeks.
Is It in Danger?
No, the brown-hooded kingfisher is not in danger. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says it is a "least-concern species." This means there are many of them, their numbers are stable, and they don't have any big threats. That's great news for these colorful birds!
Images for kids
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Male perched in tree
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Juvenile fresh from nest
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Male at Pilanesberg GR
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View of the upperparts
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