Hook-billed Kingfisher

The Hook-billed Kingfisher, Melidora macrorrhina, stands out as a large, somewhat stocky kingfisher, measuring 27 cm in length and tipping the scales between 85 to 110 grams. Its most distinctive feature is the long, white stripe gracing the area below its eyes, contrasting with its predominantly white underparts. The feet of this bird are a subtle dull yellow, complementing its overall plumage.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Hook-billed Kingfisher, look for its significant white eye-stripe and white underparts. Its large size and dumpy stature are also key characteristics that distinguish it from other kingfishers.

Habitat

This species is a denizen of the lowland forested regions of New Guinea and some neighboring islands, where it finds the dense canopy to its liking.

Distribution

The Hook-billed Kingfisher is a resident bird of New Guinea, with its presence also recorded on nearby islands such as Waigeo, Misool, Batanta, and Yapen.

Behaviour

The Hook-billed Kingfisher is known to be a nocturnal caller, with its vocalizations primarily heard during the night.

Song & Calls

Its vocal repertoire includes a long whistle that precedes a series of higher-pitched short notes, adding a mysterious soundtrack to the night-time forests.

Breeding

In an intriguing display of avian architecture, the Hook-billed Kingfisher excavates its nest within the living quarters of arboreal termites, choosing nests 3 to 6 meters above the ground. The clutch consists of two white eggs, which are incubated by both parents, though not simultaneously.

Feeding

This kingfisher has a taste for insects and frogs, and it has been observed employing a foraging technique akin to that of the Shovel-billed Kookaburra, digging into the soil in pursuit of its prey.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List currently categorizes the Hook-billed Kingfisher as Least Concern, indicating that, for now, this species does not face immediate threats to its survival.