Tanysiptera riedelii, J. Verreaux, 1866

Bishop, K. David, 2023, The avifauna of Biak Island, Papua, Indonesia with comments on status, conservation, natural history and taxonomy, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 143 (1), pp. 3-62 : 39-40

BIAK PARADISE KINGFISHER Tanysiptera riedelii # RR, Near Threatened

Local names Mangobin Kain Mum (Kuneff), Man Pisosyo (Sansundi).

Range Biak, Supiori.

Taxonomy Formerly treated as a subspecies of the widespread Common Paradise Kingfisher T. galatea ( Mayr 1941, Beehler et al. 1986). This taxon’s distinct morphological and vocal differences combined with its geographical isolation support treatment as a species ( Rand & Gilliard 1967, Beehler & Pratt 2016), although it clearly forms a superspecies with Common Paradise Kingfisher T. galatea, Biak Paradise Kingfisher T. riedelii and Numfor Paradise Kingfisher T. carolinae ( Mayr 1941, Beehler & Pratt 2016).

Status Endemic species. Although Ripley found this species only in deep forest along rocky streams on Supiori ( Mayr & Meyer de Schauensee 1939), we found it widespread and common on both Supiori and Biak. For example, SvB found seven territories in 1 km of forest near Sansundi, Biak, in January 1997. Most vocal during early morning and late afternoon when it is regularly seen, singly, in pairs, and family groups of up to four. It inhabits all wooded habitats including primary lowland and foothill forest, selectively logged forest and mature secondary forest. It ranges from the ground, where it is regularly observed feeding in the leaf litter, to the canopy, through which it often flies when alarmed.

Breeding As is the case with most if not all other Tanysiptera this species nests in arboreal termitaria (KDB; Gibbs 1993).