City - Kolkata State - WEST BENGAL Country - India
About
The White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) also known as the White-breasted Kingfisher or Smyrna Kingfisher, is a tree kingfisher which is widely distributed in Eurasia from Bulgaria, Turkey, east through South Asia to the Philippines. This kingfisher is a resident over much of its range, and may only move short distances.
The first English is the preferred name, since the geographical name is too restrictive for this widespread bird, while its easternmost race lacks a white breast.
Description :: This is a large kingfisher, 28 cm in length. The adult has a bright blue back, wings and tail. Its head, shoulders, flanks and lower belly are chestnut, and the throat and breast are white. The large bill and legs are bright red. The flight of the White-throated Kingfisher is rapid and direct, the short rounded wings whirring. In flight, large white patches are visible on the blue and black wings. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are a duller version of the adult.
Habitat and distribution :: White-throated Kingfisher is a common species of a variety of habitats, mostly open country in the plains (but has been seen at 7500 ft in the Himalayas) with trees, wires or other perches. The range of the species is expanding.
Habits :: It perches conspicuously on wires or other exposed perches within its territory, and is a frequent sight in south Asia. This species mainly hunts large crustaceans, insects, earthworms, rodents, snakes, fish and frogs. Predation of small birds such as the Oriental White-eye has been reported. The young are fed mostly on invertebrates.
Population status :: This kingfisher is widespread and populations are not threatened. Average density of 4.58 individuals per km2. has been noted in the Sundarbans mangroves. They have few predators and only rare cases of predation by a Black Kite and a Jungle Crow are known. In a freak incident an individual that was apparently in pursuit of an Oriental White-eye collided with a tree, dying with its beak embedded into the trunk. A few parasites have been noted.
Breeding :: The White-throated Kingfisher begins breeding at the onset of the Monsoons. In its courtship display the male perches near the female and spreads out the wings with bill raised high and displaying the white throat and front. The nest is a tunnel (50 cms long, but a nest with a 3 foot tunnel has been noted) in an earth bank. Nest tunnels in a haystack have also been recorded. A single clutch of 4-7 round white eggs is typical. The eggs take 20–22 days to hatch while the chicks fledge in 19 days.
Yeah.. true for a while .. I am very much obsessed and impressed with life .. especially the force of life and its flow. That is why I like to shoot snaps comprising of people rather than candid calender shots. I see the same energy bubbling in the creatures of the wild. The kingfisher is just an example.
Thank you for noticing the shift and for your comment. Be in touch and stay well.
Now thats a great change Dear arup ... From the documnetry of daily mundane existence potrayed in Black & White you have shifted to Birds and abundance of color...This is a great shot... Keep sharing more ...take care
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{K:23981} 5/29/2009
