Mountain Kingfisher

The Mountain Kingfisher (Syma megarhyncha), a small yet striking bird, graces the highlands of New Guinea with its presence. Males boast a rufous head and underparts, contrasted by greenish-blue upperparts, a dark blue tail, and black flight feathers edged with blue. Females, while similar, can be identified by their dark crowns and a distinctive bar across the nape where the neck patches join.

Identification Tips

To distinguish the Mountain Kingfisher from its relatives, note its larger size, with males ranging from 21–24 cm in length, and a proportionally larger bill featuring a dark ridge along the culmen. The bird's bright yellow bill, dark brown iris, and dull yellow feet and legs are also key identification features.

Habitat

This species is a denizen of subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and montane forests, thriving at elevations between 1,200–2,400 meters, though sightings have been reported as low as 700 meters.

Distribution

Endemic to New Guinea, the Mountain Kingfisher is a highland specialist, absent only from the Bird's Head Peninsula. Its range spans both Western New Guinea and Papua New Guinea.

Behaviour

The Mountain Kingfisher is a patient hunter, often perching quietly in the mid to upper canopy before swooping down to capture small lizards, larvae, and insects.

Song & Calls

From its lofty perches, the bird emits a loud, whistled trill, a series of descending notes punctuated by pauses, culminating in a distinctive trill that undulates in pitch. This call is longer and richer than that of the chestnut-breasted cuckoo and deeper than the yellow-billed kingfisher's song.

Breeding

Breeding occurs in December, with nests typically constructed in earthen riverbanks or dry timber. Clutches usually consist of two white eggs.

Similar Species

The Yellow-billed Kingfisher shares a resemblance but differs in its all-yellow bill and lower altitude habitat. It is also smaller with a less pronounced bill.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Mountain Kingfisher includes small lizards, insect larvae, and various insects, which it hunts by perching silently before making a swift dive to snatch its prey.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Mountain Kingfisher as a species of Least Concern, with a stable population across its relatively large range, though it is generally rare with pockets of local commonality.