Studying diversification in the Todiramphus kingfishers of Sulawesi often brought to mind the adage, ‘what is rare is beautiful’. Though I certainly also learned that rare beauties can be incredibly frustrating! While I could be guaranteed to catch my other main study taxa, Zosterops white-eyes, by the dozen in the right habitat, Collared Kingfishers (Todiramphus chloris) and Sacred Kingfishers (Todiramphus sanctus) were much more elusive. This made them maddening study species, but ensured that every time I got to grips with one was a special moment. Each bird caught was measured and had a few flank feathers taken before release. Even the most disappointing site could be made worthwhile by catching a kingfisher. In particular, I’ll never forget a particularly fetid swamp in the backwoods of Sulawesi, as I’m pretty sure all the mosquitos in the world lived there. It yielded our worst ever bird catches, but two crucial Collared Kingfishers! These moments of elation have stuck with me, and have ensured that the Todiramphus kingfishers are the study species I’m most fond of.
Continue reading “Kingfisher Evolution in the Wallacea Region”