The Collared Kingfisher is the most common Kingfisher in Indonesia. One
r eason
for this could be the wide variety of prey that they take: from fish,
crabs and prawns, to lizards, small snakes, insects, tadpoles and
earthworms. Those hunting along the coast eat mainly small crabs and
crustacea, and some fish, mostly mudskippers.
Collared Kingfishers perch-and-wait on a branch, post, fence, mound
or wire (up to 3-4 m above the ground) overlooking open grass, shallow
water, mudflats or beach.
They whack larger prey against the perch. They have also been seen
hammering shells against stones to get at the mollusc or hermit crab.
They may even snatch prey caught by others (one was seen snatching a
prawn caught by a Little Heron).
Collared Kingfishers are particularly aggressive. Not only towards
their own kind, but also towards other Kingfisher species. This could be
another reason for the widespread presence. The decline in the
White-throated Kingfishers might also be due to the spread of the
Collared.
 They
are also aggressive towards other birds such as mynas; vigorously
driving off these birds from their feeding grounds, particularly during
breeding season. They may even drive off land bound creatures.
Breeding: They perform courtship flights and the male may offer the
female titbits. Both parents make the nest. They prefer to dig out a
nest in dead trees or palms and sometimes take over woodpecker holes.
Some even burrow into the active nests of ants and termite high in the
trees. Or burrow among the roots of a fern growing in a tree. Only
occasionally do they dig out tunnel nests in earth banks or a mud
lobster mound. Good nest sites are often reused at the next breeding
season. 2-4, usually 3, white eggs are laid. In a good season, two
broods may be raised. |
