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Spangled kookaburra

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Spangled kookaburra
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Subfamily: Halcyoninae
Genus: Dacelo
Species:
D. tyro
Binomial name
Dacelo tyro
Gray, 1858
Subspecies[2]
  • D. t. archboldi - (Rand, 1938)
  • D. t. tyro - Gray, GR, 1858

The spangled kookaburra (Dacelo tyro) also called Aru giant kingfisher, is a little-known species of kookaburra found in the Aru Islands, Trans-Fly savanna and grasslands of southern New Guinea. Practically nothing is known of its family life or breeding biology.

Taxonomy

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Two subspecies are recognised:[3]

  • D. t. tyro – Aru Islands, Indonesia
  • D. t. archboldi – New Guinea

Description

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The spangled kookaburra grows to 33 cm (13 in) in length, with females growing slightly larger than males.[4] It has bright blue wings and tail, a white chest and belly, dark eyes, and a striking white-spotted black head. The upper mandible is dark grey whilst the lower mandible is white. Males and females look alike.[3]

References

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  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Dacelo tyro". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22683196A92978248. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22683196A92978248.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen (Eds). 2020. IOC World Bird List (v10.2). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.10.2.
  3. ^ a b Fry, C Hillary; Fry, Kathie; Harris, Alan (2010). Kingfishers, bee-eaters and rollers. London: A&C Black. pp. 130–131.
  4. ^ "Spangled Kookaburra (Dacelo tyro)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
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