ODKF - A Colorbomb Jewel!

 

The Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher is a stunning bird to have on your bucket list! Its vibrant colours and petite size make it a real gem for birdswatchers. 

ODKF or Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher is one of the smallest kingfishers. It is only slightly larger than a medium sized humming bird and measures 12.5cam to 14cm in length, that includes the bill and tail. This tropical kingfisher is a partial migrant and is found in the western ghats and Konkan Region, especially during the monsoons, when its their breeding season. 



It is a very colourful and attractive bird, with a coral-red bill, orange head, blue-black forehead and blue and white patches on the side of the neck. It has a dark blue back and wings, a white chin and throat and yellow orange underparts. There is no sexual dimorphism, with both male and female looking alike. 



The parents forage for food, bringing various food items, turn by turn. The babies are served with several-course gourmet meal of spiders, dragonflies, small frogs etc. 



The ODKF's are found at different locations, where the ODKF parents appear suddenly and sit on the perch momentarily, looking around to check the safety and dart inside the nest swiftly. They hardly take a minute or two to feed the babies. 



Th pieces blow are mostly what i have heard from the naturalists (whatever i could understand) and also from other friends and internet. So it is quite possible that some of it is factually incorrect or incomplete. 

- The ODKF nest is a hole inside a soft soil -wall (mostly close to a water-hole or jungle where the kingfisher can find abundant prey base), the bird is about 5 inches in size and the hole is also about the same diameter. It enters in, feeds the chick and comes back to the entrance walking back (there isn't space enough fo rit to turn inside). 
- At the end of the tunnel, there is a little wider area where the chicks sit one behind the other (in a disciplined manner). The adult comes in, pushes the prey into the mouth of the chick in front, help to gulp it down and then backs out of the nest. The chick then moves back on its own to the last position. That discipline allows each chick to be fed equal number of times. 
-The ODKF is a resident of south - Asian Regions. Those who come to Konkan area from places like Andamans or Sri Lanka.
-The ODKF breeds twice in every season. The eggs hatching takes about 17-18 days and a further 10 odd days period for the chicks to learn hunting their own prey. 
-Besides ODKF, there ar emanyu other types of kingfishers that can be seen in India. 




PS - I have seen the ODKF at Nandu's - chiplun, at Ramdas's - Nature's Nest - Tamhini and at Samadhan's - panvel. 



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