Forest Kingfisher

Mirror Reads ( Todirhamphus macleayi )

The Mirror Reads ( Todiramphus macleayii ) is a kingfisher, which is native to the Australian region.

Features

The head of the 20 cm long and 39 g heavy mirror Liests is largely colored royal blue, but has a broad black eye stripe and a white forehead spot on. The eyes are dark brown. The male has a white collar that is missing in the female. The top is royal blue in color, with a turquoise back. The tail is colored blue on the upper side and lower side black to dark gray. In flight, a white wing patch can be seen. The black beak has a pink strip below.

The eastern subspecies Todiramphus macleayii incincta has a greener back and a smaller wing spot.

Occurrence

The mirror Reads lives in tropical and subtropical parts of Australia. He considers himself preferably in open sclerophyllous forests along water courses, swamps and billabongs. Most populations are resident birds that attract the southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales partly to New Guinea.

Behavior

The food of the mirror Liests consists of beetles, spiders, grasshoppers, worms, and small lizards and frogs. The prey is chased by a raised hide during the day and killed by striking against a branch.

Reproduction

The mirror Reads breeds in tree holes, self-dug burrows in steep walls made ​​of mud or firm sand, or in the roots of fallen trees. He often used termite nests in trees 4 to 12 meters above the ground. Both breeding birds help during incubation of three to four eggs and rearing the chicks. The incubation period is 18 days and the nestling period 28 days.