From Opus

Alternative name: Black-capped Purple Kingfisher

Photo by nothinghill
Thailand

Halcyon pileata

[edit] Identification

Size 28cm
Black head and rufous belly and flanks separated by white throat and collar. Bill bright red, purple-black upperparts.
Juveniles are duller, have a buffy collar, dusky scaling on breast and a brownish-orange bill.

[edit] Flight

In flight shows conspicuous white patch at base of primaries.

[edit] Similar Species

White-throated Kingfisher differs in lacking the white collar on the rear neck, brown on head con-color and connected with the flanks, brown on part of the wing coverts, lacking the darker base of the bill, etc. but shares the white throat and the white patch on wings.

[edit] Distribution

Photo by HongKongPixels
Hong Kong, February 2012

Breeds in Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, China and Korea.
Winters throughout southeast Asia to Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi and the Philippines.

Uncommon winter visitor, and passage migrant in Singapore.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].
It forms a superspecies with Grey-headed Kingfisher.

[edit] Habitat

Mostly found in the lowlands, in mangroves, sea coasts, ricefields, forest edges, forested river courses.

[edit] Behaviour

Territorial in its wintering quarters; it is aggressive and often displaces the resident White-throated Kingfisher. Shy.

[edit] Diet

Feeds on fish, crabs and insects. Takes sometimes frogs and reptiles.

[edit] Breeding

Starts breeding in April in India, from April to May in Burma, in June in Korea. The nest is placed in a self-dug tunnel in an earth mound, a cutting or a streambank. Lays 4-5 eggs.

[edit] Vocalisation

Not as vocal as White-throated Kingfisher.
Has a unique ringing cackle; kikikikikiki.

[edit] References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 2001. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 6: Mousebirds to Hornbills. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334306
3. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links