Actenoides bougainvillei
The Moustached Kingfisher, Actenoides bougainvillei, is a breathtaking and exceptionally elusive member of the Alcedinidae family, often considered a 'holy grail' by avid birders. Measuring 27-31 cm in length and weighing around 120-150g, this forest kingfisher exhibits striking sexual dimorphism. Males boast a brilliant iridescent blue crown and nape, contrasting with a black facial mask and deep rufous-orange underparts. Their back and wings are green, complemented by a robust, bright red b...
Exclusively inhabiting humid primary and mature secondary montane forests, this species is typically found at elevations between 800 and 1600 meters, often near shaded streams but primarily foraging terrestrially.
Primarily carnivorous, its diet consists of large terrestrial insects such as orthopterans (e.g., grasshoppers, crickets), beetles, and stick insects, supplemented by centipedes, snails, small lizards, and frogs, captured by pouncing from a perch.
The Moustached Kingfisher is a highly secretive and largely solitary diurnal bird, occasionally observed in pairs, and is renowned for its elusive nature. It employs a sit-and-wait foraging strategy, perching motionless on low branches or vines within the dense understory, scanning the forest flo...
The Moustached Kingfisher is strictly endemic to the Solomon Islands archipelago, with two geographically distinct subspecies. The nominate subspecies, Actenoides bougainvillei bougainvillei, is confined to Bougainville Island, which is politically part of Papua New Guinea but geographically with...
Vulnerable
- The Moustached Kingfisher was first scientifically described in 1903. - It was famously nicknamed the 'holy grail' of birdwatching due to its extreme elusiveness and stunning appearance. - The Bougainville subspecies (A. b. bougainvillei) was only photographed for the first time in 2015, a cent...