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==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | Largest member of the kingfisher family Alcedinidae. | ||
| + | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Open forests and woodlands. | Open forests and woodlands. | ||
Revision as of 11:19, 30 November 2007
- Dacelo novaeguineae
Identification
40 - 45 cm in length. Off-white below, faintly barred with dark brown, and brown on the back and wings. The tail is more rufous, broadly barred with black. Dark brown eye-stripe. Mottled blue on wings. Massive bill 5 -6 cm. Sexes similar.
Song is koo-koo-koo-koo-koo-kaa-kaa-kaa.
Distribution
Eastern Australia. Woodlands and open forest, Cape York Peninsula to Eyre Peninsula. Introduced and established in Tasmania and southwestern Western Australia.
Taxonomy
Largest member of the kingfisher family Alcedinidae.
Habitat
Open forests and woodlands.
Behaviour
Diet includes insects, worms and crustaceans, small snakes, mammals, frogs and birds. Small prey is eaten whole, but larger prey is killed by hitting it against the ground or tree branch.
The nest is a bare chamber in a tree hollow or in a burrow excavated in a termite mound. Both sexes share the incubation duties and both care for the young.
