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Todiramphus sanctus (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) Halcyon sancta Family: kingfishers Order: Coraciiformes print version
Sacred kingfisher Martin-chasseur sacré Alción sagrado Götzenliest
Migration: partial

Verbreitungskarte von Todiramphus sanctus Nominate sanctus in S Australia mostly migrates N after breeding, although a few remain behind, particularly on coast; migrates to New Guinea and Indonesia, moving W to Sumatra, N to Borneo and Talaud Is, and E to Solomon Is; nocturnal movement, leaving Australia on a broad front from the Arufura Sea to the Coral Sea, large numbers crossing the Torres Strait and exhausted birds arriving on islets off Port Moresby; juveniles may migrate N before adults; 2 ringed Australian birds recovered over 2500 km to N, but others probably travel 4000 km; ringing studies have shown that individuals return to same breeding and non-breeding sites in successive years. Present throughout year in N Australia, with numbers in Darwin peaking in Apr-May and Aug- Sept; more common along coast in winter. In New Zealand, race vagans shows altitudinal migration, with post-breeding movement from higher altitudes to the coast and also from forest to coast and open lands. Populations on Lord Howe I, Norfolk I and Kermadec Is are sedentary.   (del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J (eds), 2001)


Regions:
Recommended link: http://www.ozbird.wild.net.au/kingfisher.html
Feedback: mail to Klaus Riede
(Last update: 26.04.04 by E.Heuel)