Halcyon(genus)
| Halcyon | |
|---|---|
| |
| Woodland kingfisher(Halcyon senegalensis) | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Coraciiformes |
| Family: | Alcedinidae |
| Subfamily: | Halcyoninae |
| Genus: | Halcyon Swainson,1821 |
| Type species | |
| Alcedo senegalensis[1] Linnaeus, 1766
| |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
Halcyon(/ˈhælsiən/) is a genus of thetree kingfishers,near passerinebirds in thesubfamilyHalcyoninae.
Taxonomy[edit]
The genusHalcyonwas introduced by the English naturalist and artistWilliam John Swainsonin 1821. He named thetype speciesas thewoodland kingfisher(Halcyon senegalensis).[2]
"Halcyon"is a name for a bird inGreeklegend generally associated with thekingfisher.There was an ancient belief that the bird nested on the sea, which it calmed in order to lay its eggs on a floating nest. Two weeks of calm weather were therefore expected around the winter solstice. This myth leads to the use of halcyon as a term for peace or calmness.[3]
The genus contains 12 species:[4]
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Halcyon coromanda | Ruddy kingfisher | east and southeast Asia. |
 |
Halcyon smyrnensis | White-breasted kingfisher | from the Sinai east through the Indian subcontinent to China and Taiwan. |
 |
Halcyon gularis | Brown-breasted kingfisher | the Philippines |
 |
Halcyon cyanoventris | Javan kingfisher | Java and Bali |
 |
Halcyon badia | Chocolate-backed kingfisher | western Sub-Saharan Africa. |
 |
Halcyon pileata | Black-capped kingfisher | India east to China, Korea and Southeast Asia |
 |
Halcyon leucocephala | Grey-headed kingfisher | Cape Verde Islands off the north-west coast of Africa to Mauritania, Senegal and Gambia, east to Ethiopia, Somalia and southern Arabia and south to South Africa. |
 |
Halcyon albiventris | Brown-hooded kingfisher | Sub-Saharan Africa |
 |
Halcyon chelicuti | Striped kingfisher | Sub-Saharan Africa |
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Halcyon malimbica | Blue-breasted kingfisher | Equatorial Africa |
|
Halcyon senegalensis | Woodland kingfisher | Africa south of the Sahara. |
 |
Halcyon senegaloides | Mangrove kingfisher | Somalia, south through Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique, to South Africa |
However, other sources, including Fry & Fry, lump the generaPelargopsis,SymaandTodirhamphusintoHalcyonto make a much larger grouping.
Geographic distribution[edit]
ThegenusHalcyonin the current sense consists mainly of species resident insub-SaharanAfrica,with a couple of representatives in southernAsia,one of which, thewhite-throated kingfisher,occasionally reachesEurope.White-throated andruddy kingfishersare at least partiallymigratory.
Habitat[edit]
Halcyonkingfishersare mostly large birds with heavy bills. They occur in a variety of habitats, with woodland of various types the preferred environment for most. They are “sit and wait” predators of small ground animals including largeinsects,rodents,snakes,andfrogs,but some will also takefish.
References[edit]
- ^"Alcedinidae".aviansystematics.org.The Trust for Avian Systematics.Retrieved2023-07-25.
- ^Swainson, William John(1821).Zoological illustrations.Vol. 1. London: Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy; and W. Wood. Plate 27 text.
- ^"Halcyon days".The Phrase finder.Retrieved2008-01-11.
- ^Gill, Frank;Donsker, David, eds. (2017)."Rollers, ground rollers & kingfishers".World Bird List Version 7.2.International Ornithologists' Union.Retrieved17 May2017.
Sources[edit]
- Fry, K & Fry, H.C. (2000):Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers.ISBN0-691-08780-6.
External links[edit]
Media related toHalcyonat Wikimedia Commons
Data related toHalcyon (genus)at Wikispecies
