Shovel-billed Kookaburra (Clytoceyx rex) lives in lowland rainforest across New Guinea. It feeds on insects and worms. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Shovel-billed Kookaburra
- At about 33 cm long, this dark brown tree kingfisher carries a heavy, short and broad bill that no other kingfisher possesses. The bill's shovel-shaped profile is a distinctive feature that sets it apart from its fish-catching relatives. Its plumage includes a dark head, a rufous stripe behind the eyes and a bright blue rump, while the tail colour differs between the sexes, with males showing a dark bluish tail and females a rufous one.
- A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2017 revealed that the shovel-billed kookaburra, formerly the sole species of the genus Clytoceyx, actually groups within the Dacelo genus. This finding prompted the International Ornithological Congress to reclassify it into Dacelo in 2023, aligning it with the other kookaburras. The change reflects its closer genetic ties to the kookaburra lineage rather than a distinct, isolated branch.
- The shovel-billed kookaburra primarily inhabits hill forests across New Guinea, yet observations record it from sea level up to an altitude of 2400 m. This wide elevational range shows its adaptability to both lowland and mountainous environments. Its presence at such heights is documented despite the species being inconspicuous and only occasionally seen, suggesting it may be partly active during twilight hours.
- Its meals are dominated by soft-bodied invertebrates and small reptiles, with earthworms, snails, beetles, lizards and insects making up the bulk of what it eats. It forages by probing mud or other moist ground where these prey are abundant.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeNew Guinea
HabitatLowland rainforest
DietInsects and worms
About the Shovel-billed Kookaburra
In the misty, primeval forests of New Guinea, the Shovel-billed Kookaburra reigns as a monarch of mystery, its distinctive, spatulate bill slicing through the underbrush with deliberate intent. As it moves with purpose, the dappled light filtering through the canopy above dances across its plumage, imbuing this enigmatic bird with an air of quiet, understated majesty. With each deliberate step, the Shovel-billed Kookaburra seems to embody the very essence of its surroundings, a true master of the secretive, hidden world it inhabits.
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