| Shovel-billed kookaburra | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Coraciiformes |
| Family: | Alcedinidae |
| Subfamily: | Halcyoninae |
| Genus: | Dacelo |
| Species: | D. rex |
| Binomial name | |
| Dacelo rex (Sharpe, 1880) | |
| Synonyms | |
Clytoceyx rexSharpe, 1880 | |
Theshovel-billed kookaburra (Dacelo rex), also known as theshovel-billed kingfisher, is a large, approximately 33 cm (13 in) long, dark browntree kingfisher with a heavy, short, and broad bill that is unique among thekingfishers. It has a dark head with a rufous stripe behind the eyes, a white throat, a rufous neck collar and underparts, a bright blue rump, browniris, brownish-blackbill with paler mandible (entire bill often appears brownish due to earth), and pale feet. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but are easily recognized from the colour of the tail. The male has a dark bluish tail while female's is rufous. Thejuvenile has a female-likeplumage with scale-patterned feathers.[2]
Formerly considered the sole representative of thegenusClytoceyx, amolecular phylogenetic study published in 2017 found that the shovel-billed kookaburra nested with thekookaburras in the genusDacelo.[3] It was reclassified intoDacelo by theInternational Ornithological Congress in 2023.[4]
The shovel-billed kookaburra isendemic toNew Guinea. No subspecies are recognised because the differences in plumage between the racesimperator andseptentrionalis is small.[5] It primarily occurs in hill forests, but has been recorded fromsea-level up to an altitude of 2400 m (7850 ft).[1] The shovel-billed kookaburra finds its food in mud or on moist ground. The diet consists mainly of earthworms, snails, beetles, lizards, and insects. It is inconspicuous and infrequently seen. It is likely that it is partiallycrepuscular.[2]
Widespread but uncommon throughout a large part of New Guinea, the shovel-billed kookaburra has a wide range and no special threats have been identified, so the bird is evaluated as being ofLeast Concern on theIUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1]
