Scaly-breasted kingfisher facts for kids
The scaly-breasted kingfisher or regent kingfisher (Actenoides princeps) is a beautiful bird that lives only on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. It belongs to the kingfisher family. You can find it in warm, wet mountain forests.
Quick facts for kids Scaly-breasted kingfisher |
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Actenoides
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| Species: |
princeps
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Contents
What Does the Scaly-breasted Kingfisher Look Like?
This kingfisher is about 24 cm (9 in) long, which is about the length of a ruler. It has a bright blue head and a reddish-brown band around its neck.
Differences Between Males and Females
- Females have a light, creamy-yellow forehead. Their bellies have dark stripes.
- Males have plain, whitish-buff bellies.
Different Beaks and Feathers
The color of their beaks can be different depending on where they live:
- Birds in the northeast have horn-colored beaks.
- Birds in the northwest have red beaks.
- Birds in the south have orange and brown beaks.
Their back feathers are dark brown with light, creamy-yellow patterns, like scales. It's easy to tell them apart from the green-backed kingfisher, which lives in the same area but has a dark green back and reddish-brown belly.
Where Does the Scaly-breasted Kingfisher Live?
The scaly-breasted kingfisher is special because it only lives on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. It prefers to live in moist mountain forests.
Specific Locations
You can find different types, or subspecies, of this bird in various parts of Sulawesi:
- One type, A. p. princeps, lives in the northeast.
- Another type, A. p. erythrorhamphus, is found in the northwest and central areas.
- A third type, A. p. regalis, lives in the southeast. Some scientists now think this one might be its own species, called the plain-backed kingfisher.
In the northern part of Sulawesi, near the Minahassa Peninsula, you can find them in the Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve. They live in thick, untouched forests high up in the mountains, usually between 1,050 and 1,550 metres (3,440 and 5,090 ft) above sea level. They like the dense plants that grow close to the ground in these forests.
What Does the Scaly-breasted Kingfisher Do?
These birds are quite shy. You are most likely to hear them calling around sunrise.
Sounds and Movement
Their call is a series of sad-sounding whistles. When they fly short distances from a branch, their wings make a whirring sound.
What Do They Eat?
The scaly-breasted kingfisher mostly eats insects like beetles. One time, a female was even seen eating a lizard!
Nesting Habits
Scientists believe these birds make their nests in holes they dig in earth banks.
Is the Scaly-breasted Kingfisher in Danger?
The scaly-breasted kingfisher lives in a small area on Sulawesi. Its population is believed to be getting smaller. This is mainly because their forest homes are being cut down.
However, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) currently lists it as a species of "least concern." This means that while its numbers are decreasing, it is not yet considered to be in immediate danger of disappearing.
Images for kids
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Adult male
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Male
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Female
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