Brown-headed paradise kingfisher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brown-headed paradise kingfisher |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tanysiptera
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| Species: |
danae
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The brown-headed paradise kingfisher is a super cool bird! It's also called the russet paradise kingfisher. This amazing bird belongs to the kingfisher family.
You can only find this special bird in the lowland forests of the Bird's Tail Peninsula in Papua New Guinea. This means it's endemic there, which is a fancy word for saying it lives nowhere else naturally. Like other paradise kingfishers, it has bright feathers, a red beak, and really long, flowing tail feathers.
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Discovering the Brown-Headed Kingfisher
Scientists first officially described the brown-headed paradise kingfisher in 1880. An English bird expert named Richard Bowdler Sharpe gave it its scientific name, Tanysiptera danae. He studied birds collected near Milne Bay in southeastern New Guinea.
The name Tanysiptera comes from old Greek words. It means "long-feathered," which makes sense because of their long tail feathers! The second part of its name, danae, comes from Greek mythology. Danaë was a princess in ancient Greek stories.
Where This Kingfisher Lives
The brown-headed paradise kingfisher lives deep inside the forests in the far eastern part of New Guinea. It mostly prefers the forests found in the foothills of mountains. You'll find it in thick, untouched forests.
These birds usually live at altitudes from about 300 to 1000 meters high. Another similar bird, the common paradise kingfisher, also lives in the same areas. However, the brown-headed paradise kingfisher usually stays at higher elevations. But near a town called Popondetta in Papua New Guinea, both types of kingfishers can be seen at lower altitudes, around 150 meters. Sometimes, you might even see more brown-headed kingfishers there!
What the Kingfisher Looks Like
The brown-headed kingfisher is about 23 centimeters (about 9 inches) long. This measurement doesn't even include its amazing tail streamers, which can add another 9 centimeters (about 3.5 inches)! These birds are quite light, weighing between 37 and 50 grams. Both male and female kingfishers look alike.
Their head, back, and shoulders are a warm reddish-brown color. Their chest and belly are a pretty pink-red. The feathers used for flying are black, but the larger feathers covering their wings are a bright blue. Their tail is a dark purplish-blue, and their beak is red. Their legs and feet can be pink or orange.
What the Kingfisher Eats
The brown-headed paradise kingfisher mainly eats insects. It catches these insects right off the ground.
