Photo: Jonathan M / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mountain Kingfisher
Syma megarhyncha
Mountain Kingfisher (Syma megarhyncha) — Kingfishers & Rollers of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Mountain Kingfisher (Syma megarhyncha) is a member of the Alcedinidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 56 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Coraciiformes
- Family Alcedinidae Kingfishers
- Genus Syma
- Species megarhyncha
Where it lives
Montane west-central to northeastern (Huon Pen.) and southeastern New Guinea
Quick facts
- Weight
- 56 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Extinct in the Wild
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mountain Kingfisher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Mountain Kingfisher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Mountain Kingfisher (Syma megarhyncha) belongs to the Alcedinidae family of the order Coraciiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU montane wc to ne (Huon Pen.) and se New Guinea.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 56 g, with a wing length of about 8.5 cm and a tail of around 6.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 157,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mountain Kingfisher?
The Mountain Kingfisher is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 56 g.
Where does the Mountain Kingfisher live?
The Mountain Kingfisher is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU montane wc to ne (Huon Pen.) and se New Guinea, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Mountain Kingfisher belong to?
The Mountain Kingfisher (Syma megarhyncha) belongs to the Alcedinidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Mountain Kingfisher eat?
The Mountain Kingfisher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Mountain Kingfisher migrate?
The Mountain Kingfisher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Mountain Kingfisher endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Mountain Kingfisher's range?
The Mountain Kingfisher has a mapped global range of about 157,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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