The Blue-breasted Kingfishers, Halcyon malimbica, is a tree kingfisher that is widely distributed in tropical West Africa. This kingfisher is essentially resident, but retreats from drier savanna areas to wetter habitats in the dry season.
Blue-breasted Kingfisher is a species of a variety of well-wooded habitats.
Description
This is a large kingfisher, 25 cm in length. The adult has a bright blue head, back, wing panel, and tail. Its underparts are white, but it has a blue breast band. The shoulders are black. The flight of the Blue-breasted Kingfisher is rapid and direct. The large bill has a red upper mandible and a black lower mandible. The legs are bright red.
Males and females look alike, but juveniles are duller than adults.
Blue-breasted Kingfishers is a species of a variety of well-wooded habitats. It perches quietly in deep shade whilst seeking food. It is territorial but wary.
Call / Vocalization
The call of this noisy kingfisher is a whistled pu-pu-pu-pu-ku-ku-ku-ku.
Diet / Feeding
This species mainly hunts large insects, arthropods, fish, and frogs, but will also eat the fruit of the Oil Palm.
Breeding / Nesting
Blue-breasted Kingfisher has a striking display in which the wings are spread to show the white linings. The nest is a hole in a tree termite nest. A single clutch of two round white eggs is typical.
