White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) வெண்தொண்டை மீன்கொத்தி
White-Throated Kingfisher sitting on a terrace in Sivaram Avenue, Sivagami Nagar, Medavakkam (Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal).
The White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) also known as the white-breasted kingfisher is a tree kingfisher, widely distributed in Asia from the south east through the Indian subcontinent to the Philippines. This kingfisher is a resident over much of its range, although some populations may make short-distance movements. It can often be found well away from water where it feeds on a wide range of prey that includes small reptiles, amphibians, crabs, small rodents, and even birds. During the breeding season, they call loudly in the mornings from prominent perches including the tops of buildings in urban areas or on wires.
White-Throated Kingfisher sitting on telephone wires in Sivaram Avenue, Sivagami Nagar, Medavakkam (Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal).
Large-headed, predominantly brown kingfisher with electric-blue back and wings, heavy orange bill, and snow-white patch from the throat through the breast. Common both near and away from water; frequently seen perched on fence posts and telephone lines near wetlands, lakes, agricultural fields, and clearings. Gives jarring, raptor-like descending trills and cackles, often in flight...
White-Throated Kingfisher sitting on telephone wires near Annakkili Amma Research Institute, Sivaram Avenue, Sivagami Nagar, Medavakkam (Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal).
Geographic Range
White-throated kingfishers range from Turkey in the west to the Philippines in the east, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. (Anderton and Rassmussen, 2005; "2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species", 2006)
White-Throated Kingfisher sitting on telephone wires near Annakkili Amma Research Institute, Sivaram Avenue, Sivagami Nagar, Medavakkam (Photo credit: U Elaya Perumal).
Habitat
White-throated kingfishers are common in agricultural areas, swamps, marshes, near ponds, lakes, in parklands, and in mangrove swamps. In India, they seem to be less reliant on particular aquatic habitats than other kingfishers and can be found in dry deciduous forests in addition to rice paddies, oil palm plantations, drainage ditches, gardens, fishponds, and even beaches. Though they feed on fish, white-throated kingfishers are not deep divers and do not spend significant amounts of time underwater. (Ali and Ripley, 1983; Anderton and Rassmussen, 2005)
There are four White-Throated Kingfishers near Annakkili Amma Research Institute, Sivaram Avenue, Sivagami Nagar, Medavakkam wetland area. sometimes more than four also observed for example on 14th March 2021 total of eight kingfishers were observed...
AARI
