Fork rack
Fork rack | ||||||||||
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Fork hackle ( Coracias caudatus ) |
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Systematics | ||||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||||
Coracias caudatus | ||||||||||
Linnaeus , 1766 |
The Gabelracke or Gabelrake ( Coracias caudatus ), even Lilac-breasted Roller or tailed Racke called, is one in southern and eastern Africa occurring bird art from the order of Coraciiformes (Coraciiformes).
features
The fork rack becomes 35-45 cm tall. Their plumage is extremely brightly colored. The chest is purple, the belly light blue. The head and neck are green, with a white stripe around the upper beak and above the eyes. The face is reddish, the wings more brownish. The underside of the wings is bright blue.
Occurrence
The fork rack can be found in East Africa from Ethiopia via Somalia , Kenya to northern South Africa , in the west from the Atlantic coast of Angola and Namibia inland.
Possible confusion
There is a great resemblance to the Senegal rack including the striking tail feathers; however, their throat is pale blue and not purple. The habitats of the two species overlap in a corridor from northern Ethiopia to eastern central Ethiopia and from southwestern Ethiopia to Lake Turkana . The spatula can be easily distinguished by its spatula-shaped tail feathers and its blue throat and chest.
habitat
The Gabelracke lives in tree savannahs, open bushland and cultivated land.
Subspecies
There are two known subspecies :
- C. c. caudata - Central Kenya to the Atlantic coast and northern South Africa . Olive green from the crown to the coat. Lilac throat and chest. The throat shows strong, the breasts light white streaks
- C. c. lorti - Eastern and Northern Kenya to the Red Sea coast in Ethiopia and Somalia . Green-blue from the crown to the coat. Throat lilac-colored, heavily streaked with white. Azure chest. Some specimens have small lilac-colored spots between the chest and stomach.
behavior
Foraging
The fork hunts insects , caterpillars , scorpions and spiders . A raised point such as a fork of a branch or a fence post serves as a raised hide.
Breeding behavior
The Gabelracke is a cave breeder .
Observation recommendation
In the area of distribution, the Gabelracke can often be seen at elevated points. It is easy to observe if you stalk carefully.
literature
- CH Fry, K. Fry, A. Harris: Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers. Christopher Helm, London 1992, ISBN 0-7136-8028-8 , p. 294ff (English).
Web links
- Coracias caudatus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed December 29 in 2009.
- Videos, photos and sound recordings on Coracias caudatus in the Internet Bird Collection