Monday 25 January 2010

Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher

Happy New Year!

I shot this avian gem today at point-blank range at Kithulgala. How many colours can you detect in its plumage?

29 comments:

Erik said...

Amazing photo. How far is this from Columbo? I have a tentative business trip scheduled for this summer and I thought I'd squeeze in a little birding.

rainfield61 said...

I have not met this dwarf kingfisher. it has countless colours.

Beautiful.

Amila Salgado said...

Hi Eric,
Thanks!
Kithulgala is about 87km from Colombo and takes roughly 2 hours by car including wayside birding stops. I would be very happy to guide you when you are here.

Please drop me an e-mail to gallicissa@gmail.com when you know more about the schedule.

Hi rainfield,
I believe it is an uncommon visitor to Peninsula Malaysia. The forest patch you go for walks may contain the related Rufous-back Dwarf Kingfisher, which is a resident over there.

corey said...

That is a disgustingly nice bird. And a disgustingly nice photo.

Soooo jealous!

Janith said...

Beautiful shot! :D

Nice to have you back Amila! Happy New Year to you too! :)

Preveen said...

Wow dude. That is just brilliant work!

Dee said...

so pretty!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful bird! Fantastic shot!

spookydragonfly said...

Awesome capture, Amila... Happy New Year! How I'd love to see this colorful bird in my woods.

Anonymous said...

Verrry trippy Amila

Stuart Price said...

Nice shot of this very colourful bird.

Nice to have you back, though you might have been abducted by aliens or something.......

Redzlan aka Tabib said...

Stunning colours and bleeding sharp!
I haven't seen you for about 5 weeks, and now you are back with this cracking tiny King. Happy New Year! ;)

Owlman said...

That makes a Pygmy Kingfisher look like the ugly cousin!

dev wijewardane said...

stunning shot Amila. did you use the 100-400 for this?

GG said...

"How many colours can you detect in its plumage?"

HEAPS!!!!

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L !!

oldcrow61 said...

What a fantastic bird. The colours are amazing. Happy New Year to you.

Kirigalpoththa said...

Good to see you after long time! Happy new year to you too!!

I think I counted about 7 colors..Beautiful bird and this is the first time I am seeing this type..

Sachini said...

nice :)

santhoshi said...

Beautiful

Shady Character said...

Wow! He really is a gem. Good to see you posting again.

Offthebeatentrack said...

Lovely, lovely shot! When did they change the name from three-toed? They found an extra toe or something?:)

Jordan Sitorus said...

Beautiful bird...beautiful shot!

Amila Salgado said...

Hi All,
Pleased to read all your nice comments. I am very sorry for my delayed response. I have been quite busy guiding tours lately and had no time to blog. I shot this using Canon 500mm f/4 L super telephoto lens, grabbed from one of my clients. This bird was known by various names including Three-toed Kingfisher, which was how I used to call it when I started birding. Then OBC checklist (1996) had it named as Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher. It has been christened the one in the title in ‘Birds of South Asia’ by Dr. Pamela Rasmussen (2005), which I prefer to follow. Having said that the Birdlife International recognizes it as Black-backed Kingfisher.

With regard to its colours, I counted at least 10 when I observed it using a Swarovski ATM 80HD Scope with a 25-50 eye piece. However, some clients who were with me thought they could discern more than that.

Vicente B said...

just amazing picture of this bird. I personally prefers this one than the spider...!!!!

Vickie said...

What a gorgeous bird and image! I was just introduced to this bird at a workshop at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife festival in Florida, along with lots of fun imformation about our own Belted Kingfisher. Visit my Kingfisher post when you get a chance. Glad you're having a busy 2010!

margie said...

what an extraordinary bird!!!

Amila Salgado said...

Hi Vincente,
Thanks a lot. Good to hear from you.

Hi Vickie,
Thank you. Nice to know that you got introduced to this bird like that. I will drop by to check that post. Yes the year 2010 so far has proved to be a busy one for me, thank god!

Hi Margie and Kath,
Pleased to hear from you! Thank you.

Mel said...

OMG Amila, this potograph is just amazing! You captured so many colours and details!
What an extraordinary bird, beautiful!

Amila Salgado said...

Hola Mel!
I am sorry to have this long to reply you. The quality of this shot is largely thanks to my clients's telephoto lens, which I borrowed to pull this through.

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