“Halcyon chelicuti”

What to Know About the Striped Kingfisher in Uganda?

The striped kingfisher  was first defined by Edward, Lord Stanley, in Salt’s Voyage to Abyssinia in 1814 as “Chelicut kingfisher” Alaudo Chelicuti.

This species belongs to the tree kingfisher subfamily. Initially, it was believed that this bird nested on the sea where they would lay eggs of a floating nest on a calm sea.

It is a very territorial bird with a big territory of up to 3 hectares. It will chase other birds of the same species and even those which are not including the shrikes, doves and rollers.

This bird will hold and survey 100 tall trees by singing form all the territory corners.

How Does the Striped Kingfisher in Uganda Look Like?

The striped kingfisher is an average bird of 16 to 18cm long. When perched, the adults appear greyish brown on the upperparts, metallic blue tail and the lower back shows secondary flight feathers- most visible during flight.

At rests you will see primary flight feathers and white wing linings at the black border. The males will show a black bar at the base of primaries.

The lower parts are more buffer at the breast. The top of the head is stripped dark brown- buffer grey background in males and brownish in females.

The head sides, throat, and collar around the neck are white, as well as the underparts. Surrounding the back of the neck is a black line just above the white collar. The upper part of the bill and tip are blackish while below is reddish orange.

Juveniles are paler otherwise similar to adults. The wings are less blue, a dusky crown and tips of the breast feathers, the lower mandible is dull red.

How Does the Striped Kingfisher in Uganda Sing and Make Calls?

They have a unique high-pitched call, piercing cheer-cherrrrr or a KEW, kerrrrrrr which is far-carrying. This bird often is heard at dusk and in display, it opens the wings.

How does the striped kingfisher in Uganda feed

The striped kingfisher is insectivorous and mainly feeds on grasshoppers and other large insects. They are sometime supplemented with small lizards, snakes and rodents are.

It forages from a perch approximately 3 meters high, jumping to the ground for food up to ten times in just a minute.

Prey is swallowed from the perch and the lerge preys are beaten vigorously first to ensure they are dead or mad weak. Chicks are fed on grasshoppers by the head first.

How Does The Striped Kingfisher in Uganda Nest?

The Striped kingfisher doesn’t build. I will nest in tree cavities made by wood peckers or barbets or even those which are natural.

In can also occupy the swallow nest and incase it fines the swallow, it with conquer the nest and kill the chicks or eggs found inside. This bird can possibly use a nest box.

How Does the Striped Kingfisher in Uganda Breed?

The Striped kingfisher is a monogamous bird. However, cases of polyandry have been recorded. The bonded pair will display courtship by sitting facing each other at the top of the tree while the tail is raised. The pair open and shut wings singing pee-hee, mixed with a sequence of short trills and pauses.

How Does The Striped Kingfisher in Uganda Reproduce?

A clutch of eggs is laid in the cavity-either natural of conquered from other birds. daytime incubation is done by both parents and at night, only the mother incubates. The male feeds his wife! It will hold the food and the female tears off parts.