The blue-black kingfisher (''Todiramphus nigrocyaneus'') is a species of

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

in the family Alcedinidae.A medium-sized kingfisher of mangroves and forested streams in the lowlands. It is found in

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea). It is a simplified version of ...

and offshore islands of

Salawati Salawati is one of the four major islands in the Raja Ampat Islands in Southwest Papua (formerly West Papua), Indonesia. Its area is 1,623 km2. Salawati is separated from New Guinea to the southeast by the Sele Strait (a.k.a. Galowa Strai ...

Batanta Batanta is one of the four major islands in the Raja Ampat Islands in Southwest Papua province, Indonesia. Its area is 453 km² and its highest point is 1184 m. The Pitt Strait separates it from Salawati, while the Dampier Strait separate ...

and

Yapen Yapen (also Japan, Jobi) is an island of Papua, Indonesia. The Yapen Strait separates Yapen and the Biak Islands to the north. It is in Cenderawasih Bay off the north-western coast of the island of New Guinea. To the west is Mios Num Island a ...

. It is considered rare (although it may be more common in Papua) and declining with threats being logging of lowland swamp forests and declining water quality.

Description

The blue-black kingfisher is 23 cm (9.1 inches) long and weighs 51–57 grams (1.8–2.0 ounces). Black face, blue crown and bright white throat are characteristic. Underparts of males vary geographically, some with rufous or dark bellies and a white crescent. Females have white belly. Perches in the understory, scanning below for its prey of fish or crabs. Very difficult to see. Somewhat similar to

Azure Kingfisher The azure kingfisher (''Ceyx azureus'') is a small kingfisher in the river kingfisher subfamily, Alcedininae.Pizzey, Graham and Doyle, Roy. (1980) ''A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia.'' Collins Publishers, Sydney. Description The azure k ...

, but Blue-black Kingfisher is distinctly larger with a dark chest or chest band. Call, a short nasal series “weeh-wiwiwi!” with an initial longer, rising note, then shorter falling notes. * https://www.hbw.com/species/blue-black-kingfisher-todiramphus-nigrocyaneus blue-black kingfisher Birds of New Guinea Taxonomy articles created by Polbot blue-black kingfisher {{Coraciiformes-stub