The Sulawesi lilac kingfisher is a species of kingfisher in the genus Cittura, found in the lowlands of the Indonesia island of Sulawesi and Lembeh.
Region
Sulawesi and nearby islands (Wallacea)
Typical Environment
Found in primary and mature secondary lowland rainforest, often along shaded streams, swampy forest, and dense forest edges. It prefers interior forest with a closed canopy and plentiful perches, occasionally venturing into older cocoa or coconut groves adjoining forest. The species perches quietly at mid to lower levels, making short sallies to the ground or understory. It is most frequently recorded in less disturbed lowlands but can persist in selectively logged forest where structure remains intact.
Altitude Range
0–1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Despite its name, this forest kingfisher is not tied to water and hunts from shaded perches inside humid lowland forest. It is shy and easily overlooked, often detected by its mellow whistled calls at dawn and dusk. The nominate form on Sulawesi and Lembeh is sometimes called the Sulawesi lilac kingfisher, distinct from forms on nearby island groups.
Cittura cyanotis at Bintauna
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, direct dashes through forest
Social Behavior
Typically encountered singly or in pairs, maintaining territories within suitable forest tracts. Breeding pairs are presumed to nest in cavities, including arboreal termite mounds or rotting stumps, like many forest kingfishers. They spend long periods motionless on shaded perches, making sudden drops to capture prey.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A mellow series of clear whistled notes, often descending, given at dawn and dusk. Calls can include soft piping and repeated puu or whee notes that carry through dense forest.
Plumage
Rich lilac to purplish tones on underparts with darker brownish to rufous upperparts and a contrasting pale throat; glossy bluish ear-coverts stand out on the otherwise dark head. Feathers appear smooth and sleek, with subtle iridescence in good light. The tail is moderately long with darker central feathers.
Diet
Feeds mainly on large insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, and cicadas, as well as spiders and other arthropods. It also takes small vertebrates, including lizards and frogs, when available. Prey is usually seized from the ground or low vegetation after a short sally from a perch.
Preferred Environment
Hunts within shaded understory and along forest edges with scattered perches. Often forages near small streams, clearings, or along narrow trails where prey is easier to spot.
