Alternative name: Black-capped Purple Kingfisher
- Halcyon pileata
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.
Flight
In flight shows conspicuous white patch at base of primaries.
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.
Distribution
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.
Taxonomy
It forms a superspecies with Grey-headed Kingfisher.
Habitat
Mostly found in the lowlands, in mangroves, sea coasts, ricefields, forest edges, forested river courses.
Behaviour
Territorial in its wintering quarters; it is aggressive and often displaces the resident White-throated Kingfisher. Shy.
Diet
Feeds on fish, crabs and insects. Takes sometimes frogs and reptiles.
Breeding
Starts breeding in April in India, from April to May in Burma, in June in Korea. The nest is placed in a self-dugged tunnel in an earth mound, a cutting or a streambank. Lays 4-5 eggs.
Vocalisation
Not as vocal as White-throated Kingfisher.
Has a unique ringing cackle; kikikikikiki.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- 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
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Black-capped Kingfisher. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 16 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black-capped_Kingfisher
