Woodland KingfisherHalcyon senegalensis BosveldvisvangerAlcedo senegalensis Linnaeus, 1766, Syst. Nat., 12th ed., 1:180; Senegal. senegalensis (L) = from Senegal. |
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Adult with invertebrate prey Photo Don Jennings (D) |
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GENERAL HABITS: Flight usually low, direct and level, with fast, even wing-beats. Usually in pairs. Strongly territorial7,10. Territory advertised by 1 bird perching and trilling conspicuously on tree top, with bill inclined and half open. Sings throughout day, mainly midmorning, occasionally after dark. Sometimes, while singing, adopts very erect posture and suddenly extends both wings wide, with trailing edges pointing downward, to display white underwing coverts and contrasting black flight feathers, while turning rapidly from side to side11. Wing-spreading display lasts for up to 7 sec (av 1.6 sec), repeated up to 15 x, with wings opened progressively to full extent in 3-4 movements while tail cocked and fanned. Wing-spreading display often given after feeding or aggressive interaction11; also in 'duet' with mate (see Breeding)11. Territorial display in response to intrusion incl flying up to 15-20 m in exposed area, circling for several min, calling incessantly, with frequent swooping attacks by 1 pair on the other (Ghana)12. 4-5 birds sometimes noisily interact at territorial border11. Otherwise, spends 70-95% of daytime perched quietly in shade and scanning for food. Sits upright, with tail pointed down and occasionally wagged backward and forward through short arc. Before flying, occasionally bobs head rapidly. Bathes by belly-flopping onto shallow water or diving into deeper water; then perches and preens vigorously with wings half open, shaking head, wagging tail sideways and rubbing bill on perch11,27. Sunbathes crouched on branch, wings held out and down for up to 70 sec. Stretches by tilting body forward, head down and wings raised, carpal joints almost touching. Scratches neck with foot over wing11. Other hole-nesters (eg parrots), predators (African Harrier- Hawk, coucals) and humans, aggressively chased away4,10,11.
FORAGING & FOOD: Flies down fast to capture food on or near ground, landing very briefly, seizing prey in bill and returning to same or different perch. From high perch, spirals slowly down to ca 3 m, before plunging directly at prey on ground, occasionally pausing to hover briefly above grass, as if relocating prey11. Large prey items held crosswise in bill and beaten against perch up to 25 x until immobilised. May fly out or up from perch to catch flying insect. Wipes bill on perch after eating or after failed attempt to capture prey. Also snatches fish from shallow water. Eats mainly insects, particularly grasshoppers and locusts; also dragonflies, cicadas, cockroaches, mantids, butterflies, moths, grubs, caterpillars and other larvae, ants and termite alates11. Other prey incl scorpions 50-70 mm, millipedes, crabs 40 mm carapace, shrimps, fish 40-50 mm (incl tilapias, Tilapia spp), frogs 80 mm (incl Common River Frog Afrana angolensis), lizards (Agama spp) and snakes 120-130 mm (incl thread snakes, Leptotyphlops spp); 1 mouse (nestling unable to eat). Bird prey incl Bronze Mannikin, Red-throated Wryneck, and chicks of Red-billed Quelea and White-eared and Black-collared Barbets. Probably hunts for barbet nestlings3,6,7,11,20. |
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Adult with invertebrate prey Barberton, Mpumalanga Photo John Carlyon (D) |
Adult with invertebrate prey Mapungubwe, Limpopo Photo Pieter de Waal (D) |
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Adult with catch Photo Richard Grant (D) |
Adult with invertebrate prey Sabie Sands GR, Mpumalanga, Feb 2009 Photo Marius Coetzee (D) |
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Adult with invertebrate prey Skukuza, Kruger NP Photo Roelof van der Breggen (D) |
Adult with invertebrate prey Satara, Kruger NP Photo Johann Grobbelaar (D) |
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Adult with invertebrate prey Bela Bela, Limpopo, Feb 2010 Photo Graham McGill (D) |
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