Black-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata) ©

            Black-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata) is about 28 cm long. The adult has purple-blue wings and back, black head and shoulders, white neck collar and throat, and rufous underparts. The large bill and legs are bright red. In flight, large white patches or "mirrors" at the base of the primaries are visible on the blue and black wings. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are a duller version of the adult and show streaks on the throat. The call of this kingfisher is a cackling ki-ki-ki-ki-ki.

Usually seen on coastal waters and especially in mangroves, it is easily disturbed. It perches conspicuously and dives to catch fish, and also feeds on large insects. The flight of the black-capped kingfisher is rapid and direct, the short rounded wings whirring.

The breeding season is in summer. The nest is a tunnel in an earth bank. A single clutch of 4-5 round, white eggs is typical.

A subspecies palawanensis has been described, but the species is considered to be monotypic with no clear plumage differences across its range.

The species is found mainly near the coast in mangrove forests and along estuaries and rivers. The distribution ranges from India (including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands where they occur even on remote islands like Narcondam), Sri Lanka, Kansu, Shansi, Korea, Malay Peninsula, Thailand, Burma, Ryukyu Islands, Hainan, Philippines (Palawan, Balabac, Basilan, Tawi Tawi), Borneo, Sumatra east to Sulawesi where it occurs only in winter. Vagrants in winter have been recorded in Pakistan, while movements related to rainfall may lead to their being found far inland and away from their usual distribution.

Photo by Nick Dobbs, Khao Phang, Thailand  26-12-2022

Taken on: December 26, 2022

Tags:

Black-capped

Kingfisher

pileata

Thailand

นกกะเต็นหัวดำ

Halcyoninae

Alcedinidae « less

Sets appears in: • Wildlife of Thailand

Groups appears in: • Greenpeace • Official National Geographic Group more » • Bird Photography of Thailand • Top 20 Birds • Flickr Photo Unlimited (No People) • The world of animals • Flickr Wildlife • Marshbirds & Allies of the World - Rails, Bitterns, & More « less

Camera: Sony DSC-RX10M4, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec, 220mm, ISO 1600 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony DSC-RX10M4
Aperture:	f/5.6
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/1000)
Focal Length:	220mm
ISO:	1600
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	GIMP 2.10.32
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