Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
New Britain Kingfisher has a small population, which is suspected to be declining as a result of the deforestation and habitat loss occurring on New Britain. Patches of suitable habitat within the range appear to be reasonably connected, and hence the species is thought to form one subpopulation. Therefore, New Britain Kingfisher is listed as Near Threatened.
Population justification
This species is described as scarce (Gilliard and LeCroy 1967, Clay 1994, Woodall 2019). The population size is estimated to be between 2,500 and 9,999 mature individuals (Davis et al. 2017).
Trend justification
Whilst specific data detailing the population trend of the New Britain Kingfisher is unavailable, the species is suspected to be declining as a result of habitat degradation and loss (Bryan and Shearman 2015, Tracewski et al. 2016). Estimates of the loss of forested habitat within the species's range vary; Bryan and Shearman (2015) estimated a 2.2% loss in forest cover over three generations (12 years; 2002-2014) whilst Tracewski et al. (2016) estimate a loss of 3.5% across the same length period. Both estimates are significantly smaller than the 12% forest loss estimated between 1989-2000 by Buchanan et al. (2008), suggesting that the rate of deforestation has slowed down over recent years. As a result of this ongoing habitat loss, the population of New Britain Kingfisher mature individuals is suspected to be in decline, but the rate of decline is not known.
Todiramphus albonotatus is endemic to New Britain in Papua New Guinea, where it appears to be scarce (Gilliard and LeCroy 1967, Clay 1994, Woodall 2019).
New Britain Kingfisher typically occurs in lowland primary forest throughout the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. It has also been recorded in secondary forest, disturbed and logged forest, forest edges and clearings, and ranges from sea-level up to elevations of approximately 1,000 m (Woodall 2019). The species typically feeds on large insects, including crickets and grasshoppers. It spends much of its time in the upper canopy but perches lower down when searching for prey (Woodall 2019). It typically lays eggs between August and October (Woodall 2019).
The largest threat currently impacting the New Britain Kingfisher is habitat loss from deforestation (Buchanan et al. 2008, Bryan and Shearman 2015, Tracewski et al. 2016). On New Britain, lowland forest clearance for conversion to oil palm plantations has been intense in recent decades, and the island accounts for approximately half of Papua New Guinea's timber exports (Buchanan et al. 2008). Estimates of the rate of forest loss within the species's range vary over time, from 12% forest loss estimated for the period 1989-2000 (Buchanan et al. 2008) and 2-3% estimated for the period 2002-2014 (Bryan and Shearman 2015, Tracewski et al. 2016).
Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.
16–18 cm; male 32 g. The male has a white supraloral spot, light blue crown, black mask, dark blue wings and tail whilst the remainder of the body is white. The bill is black whilst the base of the lower mandible is often horn-coloured. Iris is dark brown whilst legs and feet are a greyish black. Females have a dark blue lower back and rump. The juvenile is duller; white parts of plumage are washed with buff. Also displays buff edges to upperwing coverts (Woodall 2019).
Text account compilers
O'Brien, A., Everest, J., Khwaja, N., Dutson, G., Mahood, S.
Contributors
Bishop, K.D., Dutson, G. & Pilgrim, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: New Britain Kingfisher Todiramphus albonotatus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/new-britain-kingfisher-todiramphus-albonotatus on 23/11/2024.
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 23/11/2024.