BIRD Todiramphus sanctus sanctus Sacred Kingfisher

AUS SA AMLR Endemism Residency vegetation. Likely to respond well to riparian rehabilitation.4 It feeds over agricultural land (pasture, - - U - Migratory orchard and vineyards). Breeder

Successful breeding birds are known from Lindsay Park and Tarrawatta near Angaston (G. Bishop pers. comm.).

Post-1983 AMLR filtered records from across the MLR and Adelaide regions. No records from the southern Fleurieu Peninsula (south of Inman Valley), and few from the north of the region (north of Rowland Flat).3

Pre-1983 AMLR filtered records limited to Adelaide and the MLR, with additional scattered records from Myponga, Mount Compass, Victor Harbor, Two Wells and Port Gawler (similar to current distribution).3

Habitat Photo: © Tony Robinson Inhabits woodlands, mangroves and paperbark forests,

tall open Eucalypt forest and Melaleuca forest.1 Never Conservation Significance far from permanent water.4 The species has been described as 'probably declining' within the AMLR.2 Within the AMLR the Breeding pairs have been observed successfully raising species’ relative area of occupancy is classified as young for successive years, nesting in old Willow and ‘Very Restricted’. Relative to all AMLR extant species, Poplar trees (G. Bishop pers. comm.). the species' taxonomic uniqueness is classified as

‘High’.3 Within the AMLR the preferred broad vegetation

groups are Grassy Woodland, Heathy Woodland and Description Riparian.3 Medium sized kingfisher with turquoise back, turquoise blue rump and tail, buff-white underparts Biology and Ecology and broad cream collar. Broad black eye stripe Forage mainly on land, only occasionally capturing extending from bill to nape of neck. Both sexes prey in water. Feed on crustaceans, reptiles, insects similar, although the female has duller upper parts. and their larvae and, infrequently, fish. Perch on a low Young birds similar to female, but have varying exposed branch on the lookout for prey. Once prey is amounts of rusty-brown edging to feathers on collar located, will swoop down and grasp it with the bill, and underparts, and buff edges on wing coverts. Call returning to the perch to eat.1 is a loud ‘ek ek ek ek’ repeated continuously throughout breeding season. Also give a ‘kee kee For most of the year mainly solitary, pairing only for the kee’ in excitement and a series of chirring, scolding breeding season. Usually two clutches are laid in a notes when alarmed.1 season. Both sexes excavate the nest, which is

normally a burrow/tunnel drilled in a termite mound, Distribution and Population hollow branch, dead tree trunk or earth bank. The nest Common and familiar throughout the coastal regions chamber is unlined and can be up to 20m above the of mainland Australia and less common throughout ground. Breeding season September to December; TAS. Also found on islands from Australasia to occasionally extended to March, if conditions are Indonesia and NZ.1 In Australia, spend winter in the favourable. Clutch size three to six and incubation is 18 north of their range (northern Australia and Papua days with 26 days in the nest. Both sexes incubate eggs New Guinea) and return south in spring to breed.1,4 and care for young.1

The AMLR population is considered to be in decline, but there are still frequent sightings in riparian

Further information: Biodiversity Conservation Unit, Adelaide Region Phone: (61 8) 8336 0901 Fax: (61 8) 8336 0999 http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/  Department for Environment and Heritage FIS 90346 May 2008 Prepared as part of the Regional Recovery Plan for Threatened Species and Ecological Communities of Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia 2009 - 2014

Aboriginal Significance Post-1983 records indicate the AMLR distribution occurs in all Aboriginal Nations - Kaurna, Ngadjuri, Nganguraku, Ngarrindjeri and Peramangk.3

Threats Additional current direct threats have been identified and rated for this species. Refer to the main plan accompanying these profiles.

Regional Distribution

Map based on filtered post-1983 records.3 Note, this map does not necessarily represent the actual species’ distribution within the AMLR.

References Note: In some cases original reference sources are not included in this list, however they can be obtained from the reference from which the information has been sourced (the reference cited in superscript).

1 Australian Museum (2005). Birds in Backyards: Bird Finder. Available from http://www.birdsinbackyards.net (accessed November 2007).

2 Cale, B. (2005). Towards a Recovery Plan for the Declining Birds of the Mount Lofty Ranges. Scientific Resource Document for Birds for Biodiversity. Unpublished Report.

3 Department for Environment and Heritage (2007). Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Regional Recovery Pilot Project Database. Unpublished data extracted and edited from BDBSA, SA Herbarium (July 2007) and other sources.

4 Turner, M. S. (2001). Conserving Adelaide's Biodiversity: Resources. Urban Forest Biodiversity Program, Adelaide.

Further information: Biodiversity Conservation Unit, Adelaide Region Phone: (61 8) 8336 0901 Fax: (61 8) 8336 0999 http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/  Department for Environment and Heritage FIS 90346 May 2008 Prepared as part of the Regional Recovery Plan for Threatened Species and Ecological Communities of Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia 2009 - 2014