Sombre kingfisher

The sombre kingfisher (Todiramphus funebris) is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is endemic to island of Halmahera, in North Maluku, Indonesia.

Sombre kingfisher
illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Subfamily:	Halcyoninae
Genus:	Todiramphus
Species:	T. funebris
Binomial name
Todiramphus funebris Bonaparte, 1850
Synonyms
Todirhamphus funebris Bonaparte, 1850 [orth. error]

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical mangrove forest, subtropical or tropical swamps, and plantations. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Description

At Halmahera

This is a relatively large kingfisher, measuring up to 28 cm. It has a piebald colouring with white belly and collar, and olive to black upper parts. The beak is dark. Its call is a slow 'ki-ki-ki'; it may also utter series of three loud wails.[1]

Distribution and habitat

The sombre kingfisher occurs only on Halmahera, where it inhabits primary forest (frequently close to clearings), swamp-forest, mature secondary woodland, and mangroves. It may visit cultivated areas such as plantations.[1]

Conservation

The species has been protected under Indonesian law since 1931 and benefits from several protected areas. However, it is currently classified as vulnerable by the IUCN, mostly due to ongoing habitat loss through forest clearance for timber, conversion to agriculture, and other uses.[1]

References

1. BirdLife International (2012). "Todiramphus funebris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)old-form url

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet.
• The Internet Bird Collection