Sacred Kingfisher
Todiramphus sancta (also known as Kotare)
Distribution:
Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Indonesia, Timor-Leste
Habitat:
Wetlands, mangroves, urban areas on river/lake edges.
Diet:
Invertebrates, small crustaceans, small fish, frogs, small rodents, reptiles.
Gestation:
Four - seven eggs laid, incubated for 18 days.
General:
These predators perch above water and dart down to catch prey, either snatching it from the surface or diving in after it and using their wings to swim up again. Prey is also taken from land.
Larger prey is battered against the bird's perch before being swallowed whole. Indigestible parts are regurgitated later as pellets.
At Hamilton Zoo:
We have four kingfishers living in our free-flight aviary, including Elias who often likes to sit on a branch close to the top door.