Indigo-banded Kingfisher
Encyclopedia
The Indigo-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo cyanopectus) is a species of bird
in the Alcedinidae family.
It is endemic to the Philippines
, where it is a generally uncommon but locally common resident of the northern and central islands. There are two subspecies, the nominate race, which occurs on Luzon
, Polillo
, Mindoro
, Sibuyan and Ticao, and A. c. nigriostris, which is found in Panay
, Negros and Cebu
. It forms a superspecies with the Silvery Kingfisher
of the southern Philippines.
The Indigo-banded Kingfisher feeds on fish and aquatic insects. It perches on rocks and overhanging branches and foliage and dives steeply into the water to catch its prey. Once caught, it returns the prey to the perch where it is beaten and swallowed. Little is known about its breeding behaviour, although it is known to nest in tunnels dug into the banks of streams and rivers.
Its natural habitat
s are subtropical or tropical dry forest
s and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the Alcedinidae family.
It is endemic to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, where it is a generally uncommon but locally common resident of the northern and central islands. There are two subspecies, the nominate race, which occurs on Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Polillo
Polillo
Polilio may refer to:* Polillo Islands, an island group in Quezon Province, the Philippines** Polillo Island, the main island of the Polillo Island Group*** Polillo, Quezon, a municipality on the island...
, Mindoro
Mindoro
Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
, Sibuyan and Ticao, and A. c. nigriostris, which is found in Panay
Panay
Panay may refer to*Panay Island*Panay *Panay, Capiz*Panay River*Panay Gulf* USS Panay *Panay incident...
, Negros and Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
. It forms a superspecies with the Silvery Kingfisher
Silvery Kingfisher
The Silvery Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss....
of the southern Philippines.
The Indigo-banded Kingfisher feeds on fish and aquatic insects. It perches on rocks and overhanging branches and foliage and dives steeply into the water to catch its prey. Once caught, it returns the prey to the perch where it is beaten and swallowed. Little is known about its breeding behaviour, although it is known to nest in tunnels dug into the banks of streams and rivers.
Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s are subtropical or tropical dry forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.