Budongo’s Chocolate-backed Kingfisher
Budongo’s Chocolate-backed Kingfisher is a splendid species that inhabits tropical rainforests, characterised by remarkable visual features such as brightly coloured wings, a rump, and a striking red bill. Its dark chocolate colour is evident on both the upper and lower parts, and both sexes exhibit a juvenile appearance, characterised by brownish-grey scaling on the upper breast and flanks, with a blackish-red-tipped bill. In Uganda it is commonly seen during birding safaris in the dense jungle of Budongo Forest within Murchison Falls National Park.
Vocalization
Birders can easily identify the Chocolate-backed Kingfisher due to its distinctive vocalisation range patterns. The loud series, wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wi-wu-wu-wu-wu, starts high in the canopy and ends with single notes rising, decreasing, and eventually fading away. This melodic and melancholic call has long intervals between each series, making it easier to detect even when the bird is hidden. The calls are melancholic and melodic, with long intervals between each series.
Feeding-Budongo’s Chocolate-backed Kingfisher
Chocolate-backed Kingfishers spend a lot of time watching their surroundings from high in the treetops. They hunt by either swooping down from their perch or flying to catch prey in the air. These birds hunt insects, grasshoppers, beetles, and small lizards, and they are known to attack columns of ants to eat the insects that the ants drive out or the ants themselves. Chocolate-backed Kingfishers are primarily excellent fishers, based on their clear vision and sharp beaks to catch their prey. They often get perched on tree branches and along riverine areas, watching out for their prey.
Distribution/Range
The Chocolate-backed Kingfisher (Halcyon badia) is a unique bird found worldwide, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. It lives in Uganda’s Budongo Forest within Murchison Falls National park, along the Royal Mile, specifically in the high canopy of dense woods at altitudes of 700–1400 metres. This rare kingfisher is typically seen in pairs, making it a local and uncommon species in its habitat.
Budongo Forest – Royal Mile and Busingiro tourism sector
The exciting Busingiro sanctuary is situated in the interior of Budongo Forest-Murchison Falls National Park. With over 360 bird species, this is one of Uganda’s marvels for birdlife, offering the chance to see unique birds such as the beautiful Lemon-bellied Crombec, Black Bee-eater, Hooded Vulture, White-throated Hornbill, Black and White Casqued Hornbill, among others.
You can look forward to spotting rare birds like the Red-fronted Antpecker, Nahan’s Partridge, and Ituri Batis. If you’re fortunate, you might also see the tiny African Dwarf Kingfisher in the wild. Other interesting birds to watch for include the Fire-crested Alethe, the Grey and Yellow Longbill, the Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, the Forest Robin, the Green and Tit Hylia, and the Scaly-breasted and Brown Bald Eagle. These unique species make birdwatching an exciting experience.
Threats to Budongo’s Chocolate-backed Kingfisher
Climate
One of the main factors influencing these kingfisher species’ range is climate change, which has a detrimental impact on the locations of their habitats, the types of prey they prey on, and their habitat dispersion. Climate change has an impact on the ecosystem of these tropical rainforests, particularly when temperatures rise. For example, certain living things, such as insects, which are the food source for these kingfishers, are impacted by high temperatures.
Human Activities leading to habitat loss
Human activities, like building roads, agriculture, and settling in areas where birds live, have harmed the environment and the habitats of many bird species. Construction and industries often use marshes as dumping sites, leading to chemical pollution in breeding areas. This pollution negatively affects bird populations, especially Kingfishers. Overall, human actions have significantly contributed to the decline of bird habitats and the quality of their living conditions.
Flooding from heavy rains can scatter fish, making it hard for kingfishers to find and catch their food in muddy, cloudy water. This issue is especially critical when they are feeding their young, as locating prey becomes significantly more difficult in these conditions.
Conservation status
Following Budongo’s Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, these bird species live in rainforests that need protection. Deforestation is a major threat to their survival. Creating and maintaining protected areas can help ensure they have suitable places to forage and nest. It is important to preserve their habitats for their continued existence.
