Description
Big Zimoprodok Pygi is one of the largest species of this family in Asian territory: his body reaches an impressive length of 43 cm. The motley honeycomb has a gray-white plumage with light tanks, and the chest and neck are snow-white. On the head of this bird is a wonderful small crest. The male has a distinctive feature that consists in a white strip around the neck, which is from the base of the connection to the head.
This kingfisher is extremely shy, and when pursued, it can safely leave its favorite place and even its nesting hole. In the mating season, on the contrary, it makes a lot of noise, resembling a forest tern in its voice. Does not form flocks even during wintering and roaming.
Appearance
This large stocky bird can often be found in forested areas. A large head and a long crest consisting of elongated feathers (black with white spots or pure white) are its distinguishing feature. In size, the motley kingfisher resembles a black woodpecker. The upper part of the bird’s body is really motley (blackish-white), but the bottom is snow-white. The head is crowned with a rather long beak.
Lifestyle and behavior
The motley kingfisher is a sedentary bird, but in some periods (depending on weather conditions) it is able to roam, even flying from island to island.
An interesting feature of kingfishers is modesty: he avoids his relatives. Therefore, the couple prefers to nest away from other birds, so that the distance is at least 300 meters.
As a rule, kingfishers are monogamous birds, but situations are quite possible when the male forms several pairs. In winter, couples usually scatter. However, the next season they meet again, and even return to the old nest.
Where do they live
The piebald kingfisher chose the Japanese islands as its habitat. It can also be found in Korea, as well as in the central regions of China up to the Himalayas. Since the middle of the last century, this species began to nest on the island of Kunashir, and to this day it is the only habitat of this kingfisher in our country.
They are migratory birds and usually spend the winter in North Africa, Asia and Southern Europe.
Birds prefer to choose the shores of fast water bodies as their habitat, but always with a stone bottom and a large number of rifts. Within these shores, couples make their nests by digging burrows.
