Kofiau Paradise-Kingfisher
Tanysiptera ellioti
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCoraciiformes (Rollers, Kingfishers, and Allies)
- FamilyAlcedinidae (Kingfishers)
- GenusTanysiptera (Paradise Kingfishers)
- SpeciesTanysiptera ellioti (Kofiau Paradise-Kingfisher)
About the Kofiau Paradise-Kingfisher
The Kofiau paradise kingfisher (Tanysiptera ellioti) is a tree kingfisher belonging to the family Alcedinidae, subfamily Halcyoninae. This little-known bird is sometimes considered a subspecies of the common paradise kingfisher (T. galatea), but it is morphologically distinct and del Hoyo lists it as a separate species.
This species is endemic to the Indonesian island Kofiau, off the west coast of New Guinea. The Kofiau paradise kingfisher inhabits primary forest, tall secondary forest and subtropical/tropical moist lowlands. The species is also common in lightly wooded village gardens.
The Kofiau paradise kingfisher is about 34 cm (13.4 in) long including its elongated tail feathers, reaching 10–11 cm (3.9–4.3 in). The head and upper parts of both male and female are dark blue and the rump, tail and underparts are white. The central tail feathers are long and tapering. The bill is scarlet.
It feeds on insects and worms that it catches on the ground. Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Raja Ampat
Common Paradise-Kingfisher
Tanysiptera galatea
Red-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher
Tanysiptera nympha
Rufous-bellied Kookaburra
Dacelo gaudichaud
Beach Kingfisher
Todiramphus saurophagus
Sacred Kingfisher
Todiramphus sanctus
Yellow-billed Kingfisher
Syma torotoro
Hook-billed Kingfisher
Melidora macrorrhina
Papuan Dwarf-Kingfisher
Ceyx solitarius
Blue-black Kingfisher
Todiramphus nigrocyaneus
Little Kingfisher
Ceyx pusillus
Collared Kingfisher
Todiramphus chloris
Azure Kingfisher
Ceyx azureus
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raja Ampat | 🇮🇩 Indonesia |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Kofiau Paradise-Kingfisher in Raja Ampat?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Kofiau Paradise-Kingfisher sighting in Raja Ampat, based on 73 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Kofiau Paradise-Kingfisher in Raja Ampat?
October has the highest sighting rate for Kofiau Paradise-Kingfisher in Raja Ampat in our monthly data.