Current view: Data table and detailed info
Taxonomic note
Closely related to P. capensis. Subspecies purportedly differ in size and in bill pattern, but latter may be highly variable individually (Indrawan et al. 1997), and size differences possibly questionable; further study desirable. Subspecies eutreptorhyncha appears intermediate between nominate and dichrorhyncha. Three subspecies tentatively recognized.
Taxonomic source(s)
Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International. 2023. Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 8. Available at: https://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v8_Dec23.zip.
IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Red List history
| Migratory status |
not a migrant |
Forest dependency |
low |
| Land-mass type |
|
Average mass |
- |
Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be widespread and generally sparse but locally common (del Hoyo et al. 2001). The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction.
Trend justification: The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction.
Country/territory distribution
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Great-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis melanorhyncha. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/great-billed-kingfisher-pelargopsis-melanorhyncha on 21/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 21/12/2024.
