Halcyon leucocephala leucocephala

(Müller, 1776)

Vernacular names
English : Grey-headed kingfisher
French : Martin-chasseur à tête grise

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Coraciiformes
Family : Alcedinidae
Notes : 4 other subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach a total length of 22 cm for a maximum weight of 61 g. Long bright red bill, red legs. Head grey, breast and neck white. Black wings with blue flight feathers, blue tail. Chestnut belly. Subspecies with dark grey tinge to head and breast, dark chestnut-brown belly.

Range and habitat
This species occurs in most of subsaharan Africa except from Africa’s horn. Breeds in south Arabian peninsula and southern Africa but does not winter there. Subspecies found from Senegal to Somalia, south to Gabon and Tanzania. Lives in woodlands, bushy grasslands, river banks with trees, up to 2400 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is at least locally common, sometimes abundant, in many parts of its huge range. So far, it only faces threats on a very local scale.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation
Dallas Zoo (USA), SARL C. Roels (France)

 

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