Crested kingfisher
| Crested kingfisher | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Male and female M. lugubris subsp. pallida at Asahikawa city in Japan | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Coraciiformes |
| Family: | Alcedinidae |
| Subfamily: | Cerylinae |
| Genus: | Megaceryle |
| Species: | M. lugubris |
| Binomial name | |
| Megaceryle lugubris (Temminck, 1834) | |
 | |
| approximate distribution | |
The crested kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris) is a very large kingfisher that is native to parts of southern Asia, stretching eastwards from the Indian Subcontinent towards Japan. It forms a species complex with the other three Megaceryle species.[2]
Range and habitat
It is resident in the Himalayas and mountain foothills of northern India, Bangladesh, northern Indochina, Southeast Asia, Japan and Pacific Russia. This bird is mainly found in mountain rivers and larger rivers in the foothills of mountains.
Description
It is a very large (41 cm) black and white kingfisher with evenly barred wings and tail. It lacks a supercilium and has a spotted breast, which is sometimes mixed with rufous.
Status
A decline has been noted in northeastern China. Declines have been linked to habitat destruction.
Races
There are four accepted races:[2]
- M. l. continentalis (E.J.O.Hartert, 1900) – Himalayas, from Afghanistan to Bhutan
- M. l. guttulata (Stejneger, 1892) – Bhutan to Vietnam, China and North Korea
- M. l. pallida (Momiyama, 1927) – Hokkaido, Japan
- M. l. lugubris (Temminck, 1834) – Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, Japan
References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Megaceryle lugubris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- 1 2 Woodall, P. F. (2016). "Crested Kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
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