49-399: See list Buff-breasted paradise kingfisher Black-capped paradise kingfisher Red-breasted paradise kingfisher Brown-headed paradise kingfisher Little paradise kingfisher Common paradise kingfisher Biak paradise kingfisher Numfor paradise kingfisher The paradise kingfishers ( genus Tanysiptera ) are a group of tree kingfishers endemic to New Guinea — with
98-581: A butcherbird has also been observed preying on young. Land clearing and habitat loss in New Guinea have the potential to impact on the breeding populations in Australia. Although the population trend is declining, the buff-breasted paradise kingfisher is assessed as " least concern " on the IUCN Red List . The buff-breasted paradise kingfisher has been depicted on the 22 cent Australian stamp in 1980 and
147-542: A brown bill, yellowish feet, is duller and lacks long tail feathers. An adult male is 35 cm (14 in) in length including the tail feathers which extend 13 cm (5.1 in) beyond the rest of the tail. An adult female is 30 cm (12 in), including much shorter tail feathers, extending 8 cm (3.1 in) beyond the rest of the tail. Tails vary in length but are approximately 18 cm (7.1 in). Tail-feathers of juveniles and immatures are shorter than adults. The tail feathers are often damaged towards
196-422: A great deal of time and energy tunnelling out their nests in the chosen termite mounds up to two weeks at length. Paradise-kingfishers are known to have long-term bonds with each other and practice social monogamy. Most birds return to the same territory with the same partner during the breeding season, unless their partner had died in which case, they replaced them and were found in a new territory. Most species in
245-407: A paradise kingfisher consists of around one to three eggs and the young stay within the nest until old enough to leave. Both paradise-kingfisher parents are known to care for the young, incubating and feeding the chicks for 25 days until time to fledge. A common phenomenon demonstrated in the kingfisher species is brood reduction, due to asynchronous hatching. This occurs when the first egg to be laid
294-481: A risk to paradise-kingfisher numbers in the wild is overexploitation of logging and mining projects occurring within the forests of New Guinea. Industrial agriculture such as palm oil production may be attributed to the habitat loss occurring to the paradise-kingfisher genus and the country's biological diversity. According to International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List, majority of
343-399: Is 1.5. The buff-breasted paradise kingfisher hunts on the ground and from the foliage in the middle to lower levels of the forest canopy. It feeds on phasmids , earthworms, beetles, insect larvae, spiders, skinks and small frogs, snails and has been observed holding a small tortoise. The young are fed by both parents. Natural predators of nest eggs include snakes and goannas , whilst
392-534: Is New Guinea: Several species occur on this 786,000 km large island. In addition, there are several island endemisms that occur on islands of the Moluccas and the Louisiade Archipelago . Most paradise kingfishers are resident birds . The buff-breasted paradise kingfisher, which also occurs in the extreme northeast of Australia, moves to New Guinea in the winter half-year. The common paradise kingfisher has
441-467: Is a bird in the tree kingfisher subfamily, Halcyoninae . It is native to Australia and New Guinea . It migrates in November from New Guinea to its breeding grounds in the rainforest of North Queensland , Australia. Like all paradise kingfishers, this bird has colourful plumage with a red bill, buff breast and distinctive long tail streamers. The buff-breasted paradise kingfisher was first described by
490-571: Is also closely related to the common paradise kingfisher, which only occurs on Kofiau . Most species of paradise kingfishers are commonly observed in their natural habitat within the interior forests of New Guinea. However, the species itself has been known to be attracted to rivers and coasts and they demonstrate an ability to fly over large bodies of water, which is observed in the Buff-Breasted paradise kingfisher that migrates to Queensland , Australia during breeding season. An aspect found within
539-433: Is categorised as vulnerable on the list but has a stable population trend globally. The natural predators of buff-breasted paradise-kingfishers are various snake species that are smaller build, making them able to intercept the narrow tunnel of the nest in order to reach the nestlings. Another common predator is the goanna, that can break through the small opening in the nest of the birds. Meanwhile, man-made threats that pose
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#1732863088067588-533: Is described as a soft but constant whirring sound. The birds can call with the mouth closed or when holding food in its bill. During the breeding season from November to March, the buff-breasted paradise kingfisher is found in coastal north-east Queensland from islands in the Torres Strait and Cape York Peninsula south to Byfield , in central Queensland. Individual sightings have been recorded at Eurimbula National Park , south of Gladstone , and on islands of
637-403: Is made in the side about 35–50 cm (14–20 in) from the ground Tunnel entrances have been observed on the downhill side of the mounds. Soon after arrival the birds commence work on their nests, usually spending 3–4 weeks burrowing out a 15 cm (5.9 in) tunnel. The floor of the tunnel is flat and smooth with a rounded chamber at the end. No nesting material is used. Birds may use
686-414: Is the consistency in which they return with insects known to well camouflage such as stick insects and preying mantids. The buff breasted paradise-kingfisher is known to hunt by sitting motionless on the forest floor, or low tree trunks or branches while searching for various types of prey, pouncing to secure the food. Majority of the species can be found to hunt on the ground or in other vegetation as well as
735-403: Is the first to hatch thus permitting the eldest chick a head start on the other nestlings as it is able to get majority of the parental care. In addition to that, because the birds are considered hole-nesters, the eldest chick usually will take up the opening of the nest and dominate the food resources leading to the death of the smallest chick. This ensures that the depending on the availability of
784-416: Is usually noisier early in the season when the males are establishing territories and courting. Based on studies in New Guinea the bird calls much less frequently during the non-breeding season. The most commonly heard call has been described as an ascending ch-kow, ch-kow , chop chop , chuga, chuga or tcherwill tcherwill repeated 4-5 times. Each call is usually accompanied by continuous flicking of
833-418: Is very hot and strong smelling. Nests are made in mounds where termites are active, which may be due to termites maintaining a constant temperature suitable for incubating the eggs or that the termites help to keep the tunnel intact by preventing collapse. The buff-breasted paradise kingfisher normally produces a single clutch of eggs each year, only producing a second clutch when the first fails early in
882-541: The Aru Islands Regency and in the outermost south of New Guinea. It is assumed that the little paradise kingfisher comes from the common paradise kingfisher and developed on the Aru Islands Regency to an independent species. From this place it settled in New Guinea, where today the distribution area of the two species overlaps. These two species do not produce any natural hybrids. The Kofiau paradise kingfisher
931-497: The Great Barrier Reef . The buff-breasted paradise kingfisher inhabits lowland monsoon rainforest, and isolated patches of hill forest in areas where active termite mounds suitable for nesting are located. They usually perch in the mid-storey and lower canopy, coming to the ground to feed. The subspecies T. s. sylvia breeds in north east Queensland from November to early April before migrating north to New Guinea for
980-518: The 80 km flight from New Guinea to Australia. The birds have been recorded flying close to the water and drowning in sea spray, colliding with the Booby Island Lighthouse , and arriving at their destination in a state of severe exhaustion. Populations breeding in New Guinea are believed to be resident. The species shows signs of territorial behaviour in non-breeding grounds in New Guinea where single birds defend their resources. During
1029-616: The English ornithologist and bird artist John Gould in 1850 as Tanysiptera sylvia from specimens supplied by the naturalist John MacGillivray , which had been collected on the Cape York Peninsula in Australia. The genus name is derived from the Greek tanuo meaning 'long' and pteron meaning 'wing', whilst sylvia is from the Latin silva , meaning 'forest'. Until recently the species
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#17328630880671078-430: The areas home to the paradise-kingfishers are conservation sites. However, it is not guaranteed protection and there are currently no action recovery plans or systematic monitoring schemes in place to ensure protection of the paradise-kingfisher species. Furthermore, none of the species are subjected to recent education and awareness programs, international management or included in any international legislation that outlines
1127-606: The biggest spread among the paradisiacis birds. It occurs in 15 subspecies on New Guinea and islands of the Moluccas and the Louisiade Archipelago. On New Guinea itself, several subspecies of the common paradise kingfisher live there. The remaining subspecies are limited in their spread to individual islands or island groups. The red-breasted paradise kingfisher and the brown-headed paradise kingfisher only occur on New Guinea. The little paradise kingfisher has its residence on
1176-481: The birds in digging out hole-nests for their young. Finally, there are some arguments that syndactyly has no benefit to the bird at all. The plumage of juvenile paradise kingfishers differs from that of an adult bird until they undergo a partial moulting phase where only the flight feathers are retained and then it looks similar to that of a full-grown adult. In buff-breasted paradise-kingfishers, adults demonstrate colourful plumage, bright beaks and sport long tails, half
1225-459: The breeding habits of the buff-breasted paradise-kingfisher, it found that they to actively defend their territory at the vocalisation of other intruder birds and chases involving two to four males were common, to the extent of males causing damage on each other such as broken wings. Paradise kingfishers are classified as hole-nesters and use their webbed feet to excavate nest holes in termite mounds. Most species chose arboreal termite mounds located on
1274-410: The breeding pair to help protect the territory and care for nestlings. The exact reason for this is unknown; however, one argument states that there may be benefits involved the additional male, as it gives them access to possible future partners in the form of the nestlings or the breeding female. Paradise-kingfishers nest in active terrestrial termite mounds, typically found at the base of trees within
1323-601: The breeding season in Australia territories are defended by pairs. In Australia nests are made in termite mounds of Microcerotermes serratus on the ground. Nests have also been recorded in mounds attached to living trees with the bases 1.5–3 m (4.9–9.8 ft) above the ground. The kingfishers use termitaria on the ground as well as in trees. The breeding season in Australia begins soon after arrival in mid-October to early November. Mounds are typically 40–70 cm (16–28 in) high and 40–50 cm (16–20 in) wide. An entrance, usually 4 cm (1.6 in) across
1372-399: The breeding season. The clutch is 3-4 lustrous, white, rounded eggs measuring 22 mm × 25 mm (0.87 in × 0.98 in). They are incubated by both parents and hatch after about 23 days. The chicks fledge after approximately 25 days and birds have been observed leaving the nest and flying directly to a branch. The average fledging success rate for a pair of kingfishers
1421-406: The buff-breasted is brightly coloured with a large red bill, rich rufous-buff underparts, blue or purple cap, crown and outer tail feathers , black eye stripes running down to the nape of its neck, red feet, white lower back and rump and long white or blue-and-white tail-feathers which varies geographically. The identifying feature is the white patch on the centre of the upper back. The juvenile has
1470-416: The day instead of at night. Adult paradise kingfishers feed their young invertebrates up to the maximum size of 3 cm in length depending on the age of the chick. The younger the hatchlings the smaller the meals are and increase in size as they grow from hatchling to fledgeling. Feeding the chicks happens through the parents bringing the insects to the mound and delivering the food to the nestlings through
1519-434: The end of the breeding season, most likely from entering and leaving the burrow and regrow before the next mating season. The wingspan for an adult male is 35 cm (14 in) and adult female is 34 cm (13 in). They weigh 45–50 g (1.6–1.8 oz). Despite its bright colours, the buff-breasted paradise kingfisher is often difficult to see in the rainforest and is best located by its distinctive calls. It
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1568-450: The exception of two species also present in the Moluccas and Queensland . The genus was erected by the Irish zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigors in 1825. The type species is the common paradise kingfisher . The name Tanysiptera is from classical Greek tanusipteros meaning "long-feathered". The birds in the genus have distinctive long tail streamers. The centre of paradise kingfishers
1617-627: The food that season, the paradise-kingfisher brood may be larger or smaller. This may also be attributed to limited reproduction in paradise-kingfisher birds located within the tropics of New Guinea as food resources tend to be scarcer. Thus, not allowing for larger broods to survive as opposed to other environments with an abundance of resources. Paradise kingfishers are omnivores choosing to eat snails, small lizards and worms, however, Legge and Heinsohn found that majority of their diet consist of small insects such as grasshoppers, beetles and cicadas. They are also known to be diurnal, hunting and active during
1666-472: The middle to upper forest levels. Studies observing the species witnessed common vocalisation when the bird approaches the nest, in reassurance to their partner and to sound off an alarm when another predator is within their territory. Young kingfishers demonstrate loud vocalisation around two weeks old, especially during feeding time when expecting the parents return. The different species of birds tend to be most vocal during breeding season however majority expend
1715-409: The nest after breeding season ends, termites in active termitariums work towards repairing the nesting hole left by the birds to raise the young. The nest of the paradise kingfisher is created by the pair of birds flying repeatedly at the termitarium of choice, striking it with their beaks until they manage to puncture a hole into the hard surface. From there, the birds are able to excavate a space within
1764-410: The nest tunnel when they are newly hatched. As the older chicks learn to open their eyes and gain control of coordination, they begin to meet the parents at the entrance of the nest and are brought larger insects to sustain them, and occasionally frogs and skinks depending on the availability of food resources at the time. An indicator of how efficient the paradise-kingfishers hunting skills and eyesight
1813-507: The non-breeding season. Juveniles depart up to 3 weeks after adults. The distance travelled for each population ranges between 400 and 2000 km depending on the breeding and non-breeding locations. The buff-breasted paradise kingfisher is believed to migrate in flocks at night as large numbers of birds suddenly appear in Queensland rainforests at the start of the breeding season early in the morning. Many birds are believed to perish during
1862-535: The protection of the species from man-made threats such as deforestation and habitat loss. This may be because although industrial logging and mining occurring within the natural habitat of the paradise-kingfishers poses significant threat to the species conservation efforts, it is a significant driver of economic growth within the country and a large generator of employment. There are nine species: [REDACTED] Buff-breasted paradise kingfisher The buff-breasted paradise kingfisher ( Tanysiptera sylvia )
1911-412: The rainforests in which the birds are located. The preference of active termite mounds has been hypothesised to be because abandoned termite mounds become weak and fragile over time, thus making the nest unsuitable for the birds as it is easier for natural predators to infiltrate. Furthermore, during breeding season, adult kingfishers locate new nests different from that of the previous year, once abandoning
1960-419: The region are breeding residents except for the buff-breasted paradise-kingfisher that nests in Australia but has been known to migrate to New Guinea, where most of them have populations. The paradise kingfisher species also demonstrates social cooperation, though this has only been observed within the buff breasted species of the genus. During the breeding season, it is common to observe an additional male joining
2009-442: The same mound in subsequent years but always have to dig a fresh tunnel as termites usually fill in the hole from the previous year. Not all mounds that are excavated are used as nests. Some are left inactive although they may be used when active nests are predated. After the young have left the nest, a large amount of rubbish remains, including pinfeather covers, faeces, maggots and food scraps such as beetle legs. The nest chamber
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2058-455: The sides of trees about 3–4.5m from the ground and those that are still actively inhabited by termites. This is because studies show that live termitariums are stronger when inhabited and become fragile after the insects leave, making them more susceptible to predators. The paradise kingfisher species is also known to have a wide array of vocalisation. Territorial calls often consisted of rhythmic syllables that were ascending in nature and made in
2107-403: The size of the birds. Immature birds on the other hand, have duller plumage, black coloured bills and missing the long tail found in adult birds. Most paradise-kingfishers are extremely territorial, with most birds living in territorial pairs but choosing to forage alone. Some studies also claim that this territoriality is attributed to the defence of resources within the area. Upon observation of
2156-575: The species as near threatened. Meanwhile, the Common Paradise-Kingfisher, Brown-Headed Paradise Kingfisher, Buff-Breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Red-Breasted Paradise Kingfisher and Black-Headed Paradise Kingfisher are classified as of least concern on the list, but all demonstrated a decreasing population trend, except for the Brown-Headed Paradise Kingfisher that shows stable numbers in the wild. The Kofiau Paradise-Kingfisher
2205-450: The species is the syndactyly in the feet, where the third and fourth toe of the bird is fused together. There are several arguments to what benefits syndactyly proposes, one is that syndactyl feet may be likened to more strength for perching on branches. This may aid the bird when having to hunt for prey within the rainforest environment in which they are located. Others claim that because paradise-kingfishers nest in termite mounds, this aids
2254-431: The tail, often pointing their heads skyward, pulling their wings downwards and fluffing up their white feathers. A soft descending trill is often used when approaching the nest and occasionally while perched. It is regarded as a sign of uncertainty and is said to be a reassuring call to its mate. Explosive shrieks can be heard when alarmed. In New Guinea the song is described as a soft purring trill. The call of nestlings
2303-428: The termitarium using their feet and create an egg chamber "about 13 cm in diameter". These egg chambers are located at the end of a tunnel within the termite nests. Buff-breasted paradise-kingfishers have been found to create nests located on ground level. Due to the nature of the nests, most paradise-kingfishers have a specific odour to their nests due to the lack of sanitation that occurs within these units. The clutch of
2352-508: The trees. This species is one of only that rarely feeds on fish apart from other paradise-kingfishers in the genus endemic to Papua New Guinea. Young paradise-kingfishers can begin to hunt for their own prey after two months of hatching however are able to fly earlier on. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List lists the population trend of the Biak and Numfor Paradise-Kingfishers as decreasing and classifies
2401-755: Was known as the white-tailed kingfisher. The name buff-breasted paradise kingfisher was first used in Australia by Graham Pizzey in 1980. There are two subspecies : The black-capped paradise kingfisher , which is endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago , was previously considered to be a subspecies of the buff-breasted paradise kingfisher. Other vernacular names used include white-tailed kingfisher, white-tailed Tanysiptera (used by Gould in 1869), Australian paradise-kingfisher, long-tailed kingfisher, silver-tailed kingfisher, racquet-tailed kingfisher, black-headed kingfisher, kinghunter, Tcherwal-Tcherwal ( Aboriginal language). Like all paradise kingfishers,
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