Woodland KingfisherHalcyon senegalensis BosveldvisvangerAlcedo senegalensis Linnaeus, 1766, Syst. Nat., 12th ed., 1:180; Senegal. senegalensis (L) = from Senegal. |
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Adult at nest Barberton, Mpumalanga Photo John Carlyon (D) |
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BREEDING: Monogamous, solitary nester; nests as close as 40 m4,11. Territorial11. Courtship incl pursuit flight through open space between trees11. Pair establishes territory immediately after arrival; nest hole inspection can start within 2 d, and duetting within 10 d11. In duet, male and female face each other, ca 1 m apart on branch, both calling while performing Wing-spreading display (see General Habits). This display most frequent during territory establishment and when nesting begins11. Male approaches female for copulation by jumping along branch, turning alternatively left and right; copulation lasts up to 20 sec, male balancing with flailing wings. Female remains hunched passively, before, during and after copulation. Male courtship-feeds female around time of egg-laying; female adopts motionless stance on perch with legs extended (1 for 65 min), while male forages nearby11. Nest: In deserted nest hole of barbet or woodpecker, incl Crested and Black-collared Barbets, and Bearded, Bennett's and Golden-tailed Woodpeckers20,25. Sometimes in natural cavity in tree, hole under house eaves, or nest box4,11,20. Also in arboreal termitaria; occasionally expropriates Little Swift nest (Cameroon)11. May occasionally excavate own hole; recorded flying repeatedly at tree trunk, striking it with bill12. Usually 1.6-9.5 m (5.0 m, n = 17) above ground; entrance 45-60 mm diam, cavity 150-400 mm deep11,25. No lining added, but up to 70 mm of insect remains can accumulate in chamber during br cycle11. Pair returns to same nest hole for up to 6 yr4,25. Upon return, if nest occupied by another hole nester, occupants (eg African Hoopoe) ejected4. Laying dates: Botswana Oct (2)24; Zimbabwe Nov-Jan (peak late Dec to late Jan)18,23; Mozambique Nov-Jan11; ne S Africa Nov-Mar11, (peak Dec-Jan7, 69% in Dec26). Eggs: 2-4, usually 311. Laid at 1 d intervals25, on existing material in hole11. Almost spherical. White, smooth, slightly glossy. Size (n = 26) 25.0-30.5 x 22.1-25.6 mm (27.8 x 24.1 mm)11,23. Will lay replacement clutch after early failure25. Incubation: Period est 13-14 d; by both sexes in shifts of up to 40 min by day, by female alone at night11. Development & care of young: Eggshells immediately discarded outside nest hole20. Newly hatched young naked, pink-skinned, with white egg tooth and blue, bulging orbits. Beak, gape and legs salmon pink20. Growth rapid, agile at early age20. Nestling (age unspecified) with long grey feather papillae on upper parts, and shorter white ones on breast and flanks20. When half grown (est ca 10 d), dark grey eyes open, bill blackish brown with orange tip, gape red-orange20. Legs and feet still red-orange at fledging, becoming dusky soon after11,20. Rate of colour change variable; 1 of 2 chicks from same nest and still with egg tooth had entirely blackish bill, other had bill entirely orange20. Chicks brooded by both ads; fed at intervals av 19-35 min20,25. Nestling regurgitates pellets. For first 10 d ads do not remove excreta and nests may become foul; subsequently chicks void excreta out of nest entrance20,25. Nestling period est 15-18 d20, 24 d25. Fledglings accompany ads for up to 5 wk, noisily begging for food; occasionally fed long after capable of selffeeding11. Breeding success: Short br season and extended parental care imply sp is single-brooded. |
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