Stork-billed Kingfisher catches crayfish

Posted by BESG on 1 November 09, Sunday
Contributed by Myron Tay & Dr Leong Tzi Ming

Myron Tay photographed a Stork-billed Kingfisher (Halcyon capensis) catching a crayfish at Mandai on a morning in September 2009.

According to Myron, the kingfisher “gobbled up the crayfish, although its throat was just about the size of its prey! Guess it was in no mood to share its catch! I also learnt that it has a short tongue!”

The crayfish or ‘yabby’ (Crustacea: Parastacidae: Cherax destructor) is a potential invasive species, according to Dr Leong Tzi Ming. It was introduced to our reservoirs some years back. And the Stork-billed Kingfisher has proven to be a form of natural biological control.

Image by Myron Tay.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

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Categories: Feeding-invertebrates, Kingfishers

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