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Observations
on nesting ecology of White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon
smyrnensis (Aves: Coraciiformes) in Cauvery Delta,
Southern India
A. Mohamed Samsoor Ali1*,
S. Asokan2 and R. Manikannan2
1New
No. 12, Old No. 3/10, New Street, Kollapuram – 609608,
Tiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu, Southern India.
2Department
of Zoology and Wildlife Biology, A. V. C. College
(Autonomous), Mannampandal – 609305, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil
Nadu, Southern India.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
amsamsoor@yahoo.co.in. Tel: +919842853075.
Accepted 5 July, 2010 |
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The nesting ecology of the White-breasted Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis was studied in Cauvery delta of Tamil
Nadu, Southern India between 2005 and 2006. A total of 46
nests were studied and the White-breasted Kingfishers were
found to excavate long tunnels ranging in length from 48 -
152 cm (mean 114.1 ± 1.7 cm) and ending in widened egg
chambers. The mean length and circumference of the nest
entrance hole opening was 10.4 ± 0.2 and 27.9 ± 0.8 cm,
respectively. They excavated nest holes at a mean height of
207.5 ± 15.2 cm from the bottom and 96.6 ± 3.2 cm from the
top of sandy river banks. The clutch size varied from 3 - 5
with a mean of
3.7 ± 0.82 and clutches of three were very
common. The egg dimensions (length x width) ranged between
37.5 x 25.3 mm and 28.4 x 21.6 mm. The weight of the eggs
varied between 8.0 and 10.0 g (mean 8.9 ± 0.65 g). The mean
incubation period of the White-breasted Kingfisher was 15.3
± 1.12 days. The newly hatched nestlings were 3.7 g in
weight and reached a maximum of 70.5 g on day 24. A
reduction in weight was noticed in the last few days and
61.8 g was recorded on day 27. The other body parts attained
maximum maturity from hatching to fledging. The
White-breasted Kingfisher laid 88 eggs, of which 82 hatched
(93%) and 66 flew out of the nest, making the fledging
success 80%.
Key words: White-breasted Kingfisher, nest, eggs,
nestling growth, breeding success. |
