Mangrove Kingfisher

SCI Name:  Halcyon senegaloides
Protonym:  Halcyon Senegaloides S.Afr.Q.J.(2) -2 p.144
Taxonomy:  Coraciiformes / Alcedinidae / Halcyon
Taxonomy Code:  mankin2
Type Locality:  Country about Port Natal.
Author:  Smith, A
Publish Year:  1834
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

HALCYON
(Alcedinidae; Ϯ Woodland Kingfisher H. senegalensis) Gr. αλκυων alkuōn, αλκυονος alkuonos  mythical bird, long associated with the kingfisher, which nested on the sea.  It was beloved of the gods, who calmed the waves whilst it incubated and raised its young, and such periods of peace and calm became known as “halcyon days”; "HALCYON collaris.  Collared Crabeater.   GENERIC CHARACTER.  Rostrum longissimum, rectum, validum, ad basin latius quam altius, lateribus tetragonis; mandibula superiore rectissima, ad basin rotundata; inferiore carinata, recurvata, margine superioris inferiorum obtegente.  Nares basales, membrana tectæ, apertura nuda, lineari obliqua.  Cauda plerumque mediocris.  Pedes gressorii, digito antico interiore minimo aut nullo.  Typus Genericus Alcedo Senegalensis. Linn.   ...   REFERRING to the observations we have already made on Kingsfishers generally, it will be only necessary to observe, that the species now formed into the genus Halcyon appear entirely excluded from the American continent: their bills are much stronger, thicker, and more rounded than the genuine Kingsfishers, and the under mandible beneath invariably carinated and curving upwards. One of them (the Alcedo Senegalensis of Latham) is known to feed on crabs, the breaking and disjointing of which this structure seems admirably calculated to accomplish   ...   The situation of Halcyon will be between Alcedo and Dacelo; from the last of which it is distinguished by its perfectly straight, acute, and entire upper mandible, which, on the contrary, in Dacelo is notched, the tip bent and obtuse." (Swainson 1821); "Halcyon Swainson, Zool. Illustr., 1, 1820-21 (1821), text to pl. 27.  Type, by original designation, Alcedo senegalensis Linné." (Peters, 1945, V, p. 193).       
Var. Halcion.   
Synon. Alcyon, Calialcyon, Cancrophaga, Cecilia, Ceciliella, Cedola, Chelicutia, Chelicutona, Entomobia, Entomophila, Entomothera, Halcyonopa, Nutchera, Pagurothera, Plesialcyon, Pseudhalcyon.
● (syn. Alcedo Ϯ Common Kingfisher A. atthis ispida) "Halcyon alcedo, King Fisher." (Morris 1837).

senegaloides
Specific name Alcedo senegalensis Linnaeus, 1766; Gr. -οιδης -oidēs  resembling; "Halcyon Senegaloides.  Upper and lateral parts of head and of neck grey-green; interscapulars and scapulars green; back a clear dark blue-green; shoulders and extremities of wing feathers black; middle of wings deep blue-green, inner vanes towards quills white; tail blue-green; throat, centre of belly, and vent white; breast and sides of belly greyish, bill and legs deep red; space between eye and base of bill black.  Length nine inches.  Inhabits the country about Port Natal." (A. Smith 1834) (Halcyon).

SUBSPECIES

Mangrove Kingfisher (ranivorus)
SCI Name: Halcyon senegaloides ranivorus
ranivora / ranivorus
Mod. L. ranivorus  frog-eating  < L. rana  frog; -vorus  -eating  < vorare  to devour.
● ex “Grenouillard” of Levaillant 1798, pl. 23 < French grenouille  frog (Circus).

Mangrove Kingfisher (senegaloides)
SCI Name: Halcyon senegaloides senegaloides
senegaloides
Specific name Alcedo senegalensis Linnaeus, 1766; Gr. -οιδης -oidēs  resembling; "Halcyon Senegaloides.  Upper and lateral parts of head and of neck grey-green; interscapulars and scapulars green; back a clear dark blue-green; shoulders and extremities of wing feathers black; middle of wings deep blue-green, inner vanes towards quills white; tail blue-green; throat, centre of belly, and vent white; breast and sides of belly greyish, bill and legs deep red; space between eye and base of bill black.  Length nine inches.  Inhabits the country about Port Natal." (A. Smith 1834) (Halcyon).