Tongariro bird

[fraser hocks]

Hey there team. Well me and my wife are enjoying our tiki tour of the NI. Sorry i'v not given a report, but all this relaxing takes up a fair bit of the day hey?

A funny bird related question. Iv fished the Tongariro a few times in the last few days and several times noticed a bird which I thought was a Tui swoop down around the river. I'v develop a bit of a bird spotting interest as of late, but without binoculars I can struggle a bit. I bumped into another angler on his way out, on our last day on the Tongariro yesterday. He talked about a kingfisher acting the same way as I'd seen what I thought were Tui. Can someone confirm for me what bird it might have been that I spotted? Is there a bird that looks a bit like a Tui which is actually a type of kingfisher that is common on the Tongariro near Turangi?

[Jaapie]

There is only one kingfisher in New Zealand - Sacred Kingfisher.
(Although not a true kingfisher, Kookaburras have been blown across the Tasman and fall into the same family.)

You will not misidentify it. It sits prominently and waits for an opportunity to hunt. It has a larger more pointed beak than a Tui.
It doesn't waste a lot of energy flying around.
If it swoops down and tends to go immediately to higher ground, you'd probably be correct in assuming kingfisher.
They are generally smaller in size than Tui's.

They do prefer coastal fringes and the mangroves, but during high summer are known to go into the bush.

If you can get me any more info regarding colour I will positively ID it for you.

[Lindeanfisher]

Gents - When in Maraetai last week I managed to photo this chap in the garden, not sure if this would be the same bird??
Cheers
Mike

[Jaapie]

Well done Mike - that should give Fraser something to work from.

That is quite positively a Sacred Kingfisher.
Same one that lives over in Aussie.

It is quite interesting just how many species of Kingfisher there are across the different continents.
I do a lot of bird photography as a side hobby and photographing the kingfishers make for some great hours near the water.

[Boisker]

We’ve only one species in the U.K., but I’ve seen quite a few different ones in Caribbean, India and Africa... stunning birds

[Lindeanfisher]

Hi Kevin
Our UK version is smaller and faster in flight. I was fortunate that your Kingfisher shared a large Palm tree in the garden next door with a pair of wood pigeons. There was a Tui that would visit the birdbath when the camera was not to hand

[Jaapie]

Great photo's Mike.

I'll dig out a few and put them up to share.

I have a fishpond in an Auckland property that the kingfishers love.
They have systematically taken most of the fish and often sit on the deck waiting to dive into the water.
They nest in a palm tree next door and I've spent endless hours watching them go about their business.

[Jaapie]

Some kingfisher shots from my travels.



Pied Kingfisher





Malachite Kingfisher








Giant Kingfisher

[Jaapie]

This is the Woodland Kingfisher

[Lindeanfisher]

Hi Kevin
Many thanks, I never knew there was so many varieties of the kingfisher.
I am sure Fraser and I have learned a lot more thanks to your photo’s.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers
Mike