Guam Kingfisher
Scientific Name
Class
Order
Range
Habitat
Estimated Wild Population
More Information
Physical Description
Guam kingfishers measure up to nine inches long. Both sexes have a long, stout, pointed bill; a black eye strip; and greenish-blue wings. Males have a cinnamon-colored head and chest, and females have a white chest and belly. Males and females work together to build their nest, an activity that helps with bonding. In the wild, their diet primarily consists of insects and lizards. In zoos, they also eat mice, anoles, crickets, and worms.
Interesting Fact 1
Guam kingfishers, once widespread on the island of Guam, are extinct in the wild due to the introduction of the brown tree snake.
Interesting Fact 2
They are aggressive, territorial birds with a loud, raspy call.
Interesting Fact 3
They use their beak to carve nesting holes in trees—jabbing repeatedly at the wood while in flight.
Species Survival Plan®
We cooperate with other members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to manage the zoo population of this species through a Species Survival Plan®.
Commitment to Care
Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.
Support Your Zoo
Animals Depend On People Too
When you ADOPT an animal, you support world-class animal care by helping to provide specially formulated diets, new habitat elements, and regular veterinary checkups.
Wish List
The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.
Take Action With Us
Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.
