Banded Kingfisher – male, calls

posted in: birds, Kingfishers, Vocalisation | 0

Saw a single male Banded Kingfisher (Lacedo pulchella pulchella) at this location in dense primary forest and heard the advertising calls a number of times. The call is described as “chi-wiu” in a variety of literature. I may have missed recording the start of the calls which is said to be a whistle.

The call comprises two distinct notes (see sonogram and waveform above). The call duration is 0.6-0.7 seconds and is repeated every 0.4-0.5 seconds. It starts loud and gradually fads away. In this recording the male made 12 calls (said to be usually 15; Wells 1999, HBW 2019). An edited recording, with some noise reduction to lessen loud insect hum of the jungle, is here: https://www.xeno-canto.org/456754

 

Amar-Singh HSS (Dato’ Dr)

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

 

Location: Taiping, Perak, Malaysia

Habitat: Primary jungle at foothills

Date: 14th February 2019

Equipment: Nikon D500 SLR with Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD, handheld with Rode VideoMic Pro Plus Shotgun Microphone

 

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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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