물총새 Alcedo atthis bengalensis Gmelin 의 繁殖生活史

Breeding Biology of the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis bengalensis Gmelin

One nest of the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis bengalensis Gmelin breeding in the area of Mt. Bangu, Mugye-ri, Jangye-ri, Jangyu-myon, Gimhae-gun, Gyongnam province, was observed for 43 days from July 18 to August 29, 1984. The nest was found at a height of 71cm in a steep mountain side. It was tunnel-shaped, with a size of 53cm(length), 5.5*6.4cm (the diameter of entrance) and 16.1*10.5cm (the diameter of incubation seat). The cluth size was 5 eggs. The eggs were white in color, the average size of 5 eggs being 20mm (length)*17.9mm(width). The incubation period was 18 days, the parent birds stayed in the nest at on average of 494 minutes and the rate of incubation was 82.20%. The incubation time increased gradually. The nesting period of 3 chicks was 25 days, and the average feeding frequency was 5, 50 times per day with the highest frequency of 10 times on the 14th days after hatching. The time and frequency of attendance gradually decreased as their chicks grew up. Total increase length in body was; body length 45.35longrightarrow147.80mm, wing 6.95longrightarrow63.40mm, bill 1.73longrightarrow29.36mm and body weight 2.93longrightarrow41.00gr. The prey for the 3 chicks of the nest was entirely fish. The main food item was the fry of Gobiobotidae. The home range of the nest was 0.43ha. and the territory size was 0.05ha. Their feeding ground were outside of their territory.