General Information

COMMON NAMES: Chattering Kingfisher, Borabora Kingfisher; German Schnatternder Liest, Boraboraliest TRADITIONAL NAMES: Kōtare (RR), Ngōtare (AT MK) GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE Southeast Polynesia (‘Ātiu, Ma‘uke, Societies) COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Native, Resident Breeder, Endemic of se.Polynesia; Land SIGNIFICANCE LIST: Ecotourism KEY FEATURES: A small bird, to 22cmTL, with a large head and large black bill, and small tail. Head, neck and underside white, with a small blue-green cap and eyestripe; back, wings and tail blue. VOICE chattering "ke-ke-ke" or repeated "ke-keu". SIMILAR SPECIES: Mangaia Kingfisher (Todirhamphus ruficollaris) has pale orange neck AND orange above the dark eye-stripe (vs. white).

Cook Islands Distribution

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Southern Group: Present    Makatea:
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN
X	-	+++	+++	-	-	-	-	-

Northern Group: -
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW
-	-	-	-	-	-

Todiramphus tuta
SYNONYMS: Halcyon tuta atiu; Halcyon tuta mauke; Todirhamphus tuta [misspelt, Lesson 1828 spelling was Todiramphus NOT Todirhamphus]; Todirhamphus tuta atiu; Todirhamphus tuta mauke

TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; CHORDATA; GNATHOSTOMATA (Jawed Vertebrates); TETRAPODA; AVES; NEORNITHES; Coraciiformes; ALCEDINIDAE

SIGNIFICANCE NOTES -
POSITIVE SIGNIFICANCE: Ecotourism. Comments: A widespread and notable bird on ‘Ātiu and Ma‘uke.

IDENTIFICATION: A small bird to 22cmTL. Bill long stout and black; legs short and dark grey; tail narrow and short. Head white with a small blue-green cap; eyestripe around back of head blue-green; neck white to pale yellow; underside white. Back, wings and tail blue. YOUNG with extensive blue cap and eye-band, and white-fringed wing feathers. VOICE: noisy chattering "ke-ke-ke" or a repeated "ki-kiu".

Vouchers:
None Recorded.

References:
None recorded.

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zupB06a, zM02, zupM03a, zD02

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