Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis senegalensis) - 14 July 2013. Grumeti River Crossing,
Serengeti National Park, Mara Region, Tanzania.
The dark mandible and gray belly help distinguish this species from the more widespread Gray-headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala). Two races occur in this area with the nominate being resident and the southern H. s. cyanoleuca occurring mostly as a migrant. It has a more extensive black wedge behind the eye and often a bluish wash to the crown. I tentatively judged this individual to be nominate, but welcome corrections. Nikon P510 Coolpix Point-and-shoot |