Society kingfisher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Society kingfisher |
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| illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans | |
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| Genus: |
Todiramphus
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| Species: |
veneratus
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The Society kingfisher or Tahiti kingfisher (Todiramphus veneratus) is a special type of bird. It belongs to the Alcedinidae family, which includes all kingfishers. This bird lives only in the Society Islands in French Polynesia. You can find it in warm, wet places. These include forests in low areas and forests on mountains.
Contents
About the Society Kingfisher's Name
How Scientists Name Animals
The Society kingfisher was officially described in 1788. A German scientist named Johann Friedrich Gmelin did this. He wrote about it in his updated book, Systema Naturae. This book was originally by Carl Linnaeus. Gmelin gave the bird its first scientific name: Alcedo venerata.
Why is it "Venerated"?
Gmelin's description came from an earlier one. An English bird expert, John Latham, had described it in 1782. Latham called it the "venerated kingsfisher." He saw a bird specimen in a museum. He thought it came from the "Friendly Islands," which are now Tonga. But this was a mistake.
Latham noted that people in Polynesia respected and protected these kingfishers. The word "venerated" means highly respected or honored. This is why the bird got its name.
Explorers and Drawings
The bird specimen Latham saw was likely collected during James Cook's voyages. Captain Cook made several trips to the Pacific Ocean. Scientists and artists traveled with him. Three old drawings of the Society kingfisher still exist. One was by Georg Forster from Cook's second voyage. Another was by William Wade Ellis from the third voyage. The artist John Webber also drew one on the third voyage.
Understanding the Scientific Name
Today, the Society kingfisher is part of the Todiramphus group. This group has about 30 different kingfisher species. The name Todiramphus combines two words. Todus is another bird group name. Rhamphos is an Ancient Greek word meaning "bill" or "beak." The second part of its name, veneratus, is Latin. It means "venerated" or "respected," just like Latham noted.
Different Types of Society Kingfishers
Scientists recognize two subspecies, or types, of the Society kingfisher:
- T. v. veneratus (Gmelin, 1788) – This type lives on the island of Tahiti. Tahiti is in the Society Islands in eastern Polynesia.
- T. v. youngi (Sharpe, 1892) – This type lives on Moorea island. Moorea is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of Tahiti.
What the Society Kingfisher Looks Like
The Society kingfisher is about 21 centimeters (8.3 inches) long. That's about the length of a standard pencil.
Male and Female Differences
The male bird on Tahiti has dull olive-colored upper parts. Its head is a brownish blue-green. It has a pretty aquamarine blue area behind its eye and on its cheeks. Its belly is white. It also has a wide, rusty-colored band across its chest.
The female bird on Tahiti looks a bit different. Her upper parts are dusky brown. She also has a clear brown band across her chest.
Differences Between Subspecies
The male of the T. v. youngi subspecies, found on Moorea, is a pale brown color on its upper parts. This shows how birds can look slightly different even within the same species, depending on where they live.
