Blyth's Kingfisher

The Blyth's Kingfisher, known scientifically as Alcedo hercules, stands as the largest member of its genus. This regal bird is a tribute to Edward Blyth, an English zoologist, and has been referred to by various names including Alcedo grandis and the great blue kingfisher. With a length spanning between 22 and 23 cm, it boasts a striking plumage: deep rufous underparts contrasted by a blackish blue breast patch, and dazzling cobalt blue or azure upperparts with a purple sheen. The wings are a dark blackish green, adorned with blue speckles and tips on select feathers. The male's bill is a solid black, while the female's lower mandible is a dark red.

Identification Tips

Distinguishable from its cousins, the blue-eared kingfisher (Alcedo meninting) and the common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), by its grand size, hefty black bill, and dark lores, the Blyth's Kingfisher is a sight to behold. The male's entirely black bill and the female's dark red lower mandible are key identifiers, along with the bird's brilliant blue upperparts and rufous belly.

Habitat

Blyth's Kingfisher is often found along streams within evergreen forests and adjacent open country, preferring elevations between 200 and 1,200 meters, with a sweet spot between 400 and 1,000 meters.

Distribution

This species graces the landscapes from Nepal through India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Despite its broad range, it is a rare jewel, with a low density even in preferred habitats.

Behaviour

A shy creature by nature, the Blyth's Kingfisher frequents small waterways, diving from shrubs close to the water to catch fish and insects. It is a non-migratory bird, with both sexes sharing the duty of incubating their four to six eggs in nests built at the end of tunnels in stream banks or ravines.

Song & Calls

The call of the Blyth's Kingfisher is a loud "pseet," less shrill but more hoarse than that of the common kingfisher, and similar but louder to the blue-eared kingfisher's call.

Breeding

The breeding season spans from March to June, with nests ingeniously constructed at the end of tunnels in muddy banks. The nest chamber is meticulously crafted, and both parents incubate the eggs, which are laid in clutches of four to six.

Similar Species

The Blyth's Kingfisher can be confused with the blue-eared kingfisher due to its size and plumage, but it is significantly larger with a heavier bill. The speckles of light blue on its crown and wing coverts are distinctive, as are the dark ear coverts that set it apart from the common kingfisher.

Diet and Feeding

This kingfisher's diet consists primarily of fish and insects, which it skillfully captures by diving from perches close to the water's surface.

Conservation status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Blyth's Kingfisher as "near threatened." The population is believed to be small and in decline due to habitat degradation and fragmentation, water pollution, and other human disturbances. No specific conservation actions are currently known for this species.