Wildlifeof Bhutan
Blyth's Kingfisher
Kingfishers, Bee-eaters & Rollers
Photo: (c) rohanmenzies, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Alcedo hercules
Basic stats
Diet
Fish and insects, caught by diving from a shrub near the water
Habitat
Streams in evergreen forest and adjacent open country, 200–1,200m and mainly 400–1,000m
Range
Nepal through India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam; rare in Bhutan
Clutch size
4–6 eggs, incubated by both sexes
Size
22–23cm
Blyth's kingfisher is the largest kingfisher in its genus, 22 to 23cm long, with deep rufous underparts, a blackish-blue breast patch and brilliant cobalt blue or azure upperparts tinged with purple. The male's bill is entirely black, while the female has a dark red lower mandible. It is told from similar kingfishers by its greater size, heavy black bill and dark lores (Wikipedia, general species account).
It ranges from Nepal through India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, and is rare in Bhutan. It is found along streams in evergreen forest and adjacent open country, mainly between 400 and 1,000m. A shy bird, it frequents small waterways, feeding on fish and insects caught by diving from a shrub. Breeding is from March to June, in a tunnel dug in a stream bank, with four to six eggs. The population is small and declining.
Quick answers
- What does the Blyth's Kingfisher eat?
- Fish and insects, caught by diving from a shrub near the water
- What habitat does the Blyth's Kingfisher live in?
- Streams in evergreen forest and adjacent open country, 200–1,200m and mainly 400–1,000m
- Where is the Blyth's Kingfisher found?
- Nepal through India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam; rare in Bhutan
- How many eggs does the Blyth's Kingfisher lay?
- 4–6 eggs, incubated by both sexes
- How big is the Blyth's Kingfisher?
- 22–23cm