Calls of the White-throated Kingfisher

YC Wee
on 6th October 2010

Sun Chong Hong’s video of a White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) perching on the roof of a house vocalising shows the bird making a possible distress call. What caused its distress? The sudden appearance of a number of House Crows (Corvus splendens) and Asian Koels (Eudynamys scolopacea), and of course Chong Hong himself.

In making its call, the kingfisher stretched out its neck, lifted its head upwards, opens the mandibles and started calling. The throat can be seen inflating and vibrating. The body can be seen vibrating too.

Attached are two other audio recordings of calls made by the White-throated Kingfishers. The familiar territorial/distraction call is HERE, while a similar call to the one in the video clip, but with the ending part sounding different is HERE.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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Any views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

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