Kingfisher bird - 10 common kingfisher species in Vietnam

Learn about the characteristics, habits and 10 common kingfisher species in Vietnam such as large kingfisher, river kingfisher, red-billed kingfisher, black-headed kingfisher, dwarf kingfisher, crested kingfisher,...

Kingfisher bird is the common name for small, brightly colored birds with long beaks and excellent underwater hunting ability - a familiar image that often appears in rivers, lakes, and mangrove forests in Vietnam.

If you want to learn more about the general characteristics as well as some common kingfisher species in Vietnam, please read the article below by nicebirds !

About Kingfisher

Learn about the kingfisher group.

Kingfisher, whose English name is Kingfisher, is the common name of a group of birds with colorful feathers, long pointed beaks and excellent "fishing" skills belonging to the order Coraciiformes. Currently, the kingfisher family has more than 90 species, widely distributed around the world. In Vietnam alone, there are about 10 species of kingfishers living from mountainous areas to plains and coastal areas.

Although kingfishers are not endangered, in Vietnam some kingfisher species are seriously threatened by habitat loss, illegal hunting and reduced food sources.

General characteristics of kingfishers

Image of kingfisher hunting in water.

Although there are more than 90 different species of kingfishers, they all have some common characteristics in morphology, habits and behavior, specifically as follows:

Characteristic body shape

Most kingfisher species share the following morphological characteristics:

• Small - medium size with length from 10 - 40 cm
• Big head, short body, short neck
• The beak is long, straight, pointed and very strong.
• Short, round wings but fly very fast
• Short legs with fused front three toes

colorful fur

Kingfishers are extremely colorful and eye-catching with tones such as blue, turquoise, orange, white, black and red.

In particular, there is not much difference in appearance or color between male and female kingfishers (sexual dimorphism).

Very good eyesight

A common feature of the kingfisher group is very good eyesight, specifically as follows:

• Sharp eyesight: Easily see small prey underwater from a few meters away thanks to eyes with a very high density of photoreceptors.
• Flexible vision adjustment ability: Kingfishers have the ability to adjust the shape of their lenses to help them "focus" extremely quickly and a third "nictitating" membrane helps protect the eyes and support clear vision in water.
• Accurate distance estimation: Kingfishers have stereoscopic vision that allows them to locate prey with both eyes, thereby contributing to the accurate calculation of distance and angle of dive to be able to catch prey quickly.

Skilled hunting

Kingfishers are extremely skilled at hunting. They often perch on tree branches near the water and wait for fish to swim by. Then they dive straight down to lock onto their prey with their long, sharp beaks and fly back up to perch on the branches to enjoy their "spoils of war".

Nesting in caves

The biggest difference between kingfishers and other birds is that they do not nest on tree branches but often dig burrows in walls, pond banks, and river banks with a depth of 30 - 100 cm to make nests.

10 common kingfisher species in Vietnam

Let's learn in detail about 10 common kingfisher species in Vietnam to see what makes them stand out.

Big Kingfisher

A large kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis with its distinctive large red beak.

The large kingfisher, also known as the red-billed kingfisher or brown-headed kingfisher, has the scientific name Halcyon smyrnensis, and is one of the most common kingfisher species in Vietnam with a wide distribution density from the Red River Delta to the Central region, the Central Highlands to the Mekong Delta.

General characteristics of large kingfishers:

• Size: 28 - 30 cm, larger than other fish species in Vietnam
• Their large, long beaks are dark red, so they are also called red-billed kingfishers.
• Head and chest are dark brown, reddish brown, chest is pure white, back - wings - tail are brilliant blue
• Diverse foods such as small fish, insects, frogs, toads, lizards, snakes or small mice

River Kingfisher (Common Kingfisher)

The impressive colors of the river kingfisher (Kingfisher).

The river kingfisher, also known as the kingfisher, scientific name Alcedo atthis, is one of the small, beautiful and popular kingfisher species in Vietnam, appearing in all three regions of the North - Central - South.

Characteristics of common kingfishers:

• Quite small size, only 16 - 17 cm
• Back - wings - tail are brilliant metallic blue
• Belly - chest - cheeks are dark orange or reddish brown
• Throat has a distinct white streak
• Mainly eat small fish, shrimp, prawns or aquatic insects.

Dwarf Kingfisher

A dwarf kingfisher with rainbow colored feathers.

The dwarf kingfisher, also known as the golden-headed kingfisher or the five-colored kingfisher, has the scientific name Ceyx erithaca. This is one of the most colorful small kingfishers in Vietnam. It is mainly distributed in the northern mountainous provinces or the Central Highlands.

Characteristics of dwarf kingfisher:

• Very small size only 12 - 14 cm
• Head is bright orange or red
• Back - wings - tail are purple or metallic blue
• The chest and belly are bright orange-yellow.
• The wings are black with a dark blue tinge.
• Short, large beak with orange-red color
• Usually keeps a low profile, rarely detected despite striking appearance.
• Don't eat much fish but mainly eat small insects, spiders, lizards, crabs, small frogs,...

White striped kingfisher

White striped kingfisher with monotonous black and white plumage.

The white-striped kingfisher, scientifically named Ceryle rudis, is also a kingfisher species commonly found in Vietnam, especially in the Mekong Delta and the Southern coastal plain.

Characteristics of white striped kingfisher:

• Average size from 25 - 28 cm
• The fur has two main colors, black and white, creating a unique contrast.
• Head with upside down feathers
• Long, pointed, shiny black beak
• Long, rounded tail
• Able to hover in the air
• Main food is small fish, shrimp, prawn or aquatic insects

Stork-billed Kingfisher (Broad-billed Kingfisher)

The Broad-billed Kingfisher has a large red beak.

The Stork-billed Kingfisher, also known as the Broad-billed Kingfisher, with the scientific name Pelargopsis capensis, is one of the largest kingfisher species in Vietnam. It is commonly found in the Mekong Delta, Central Highlands and Central regions.

Characteristics of broad-beak lemongrass:

• Very large size from 33 - 38 cm
• The beak is very large, orange-red, shaped like a stork's beak.
• Head is gray-brown, back - wings - tail are blue, chest - abdomen are cream yellow or light yellow, short legs are orange-red.
• Usually eat small fish, shrimp, crabs, frogs and even baby birds.

Blue ear kingfisher

Sharp image of a Blue-eared Kingfisher (Blue-eared Kingfisher).

Blue-eared Kingfisher, also known as Blue-eared Kingfisher, scientific name is Alcedo meninting, one of the small, pretty kingfisher species in Vietnam. Commonly distributed in the Central Highlands, Central region or mountainous areas in the North.

Characteristics of blue ear kingfisher:

• Small size, only 16 - 17 cm, smaller than normal kingfisher
• Head - back - wings are metallic blue, behind the eyes is dark blue, chest - abdomen is dark orange or bright orange extending to the tail.
• Long, pointed black beak
• Short orange red legs
• Very shy, often hiding in bushes along streams

Kingfisher (Red Kingfisher)

A red kingfisher is holding a lizard in its mouth.

The forest kingfisher, also known as the red kingfisher, with the scientific name Ceyx erithaca, is one of the most colorful small kingfishers, considered the “living pearl” of the forests of Vietnam. This bird species often appears in the forests of the Central, Central Highlands or the South.

Characteristics of red lemon:

• Small size from 13 - 14 cm
• Long, thin beak with bright red color
• The back and head are purple with a blue tint, the face - chest - belly are bright orange or bright yellow, the wings are black mixed with a purple tint.
• Small legs are red, orange red
• Do not eat fish but only eat insects, beetles, lizards, frogs, and toads because they only hunt in the jungle and not near the water.

Blackhead Kingfisher (Blackhead Lemongrass)

The impressive appearance of the black-headed kingfisher - Black-headed kingfisher.

The black-headed kingfisher, also known as the black-headed kingfisher, with the scientific name Halcyon pileata, is one of the most recognizable kingfishers in Vietnam with a jet-black head, bright red beak, and striking blue-white feathers. This kingfisher species is widely distributed throughout the North, Central, and South, especially in mangrove forests, cajuput forests, and moist forest edges.

Characteristics of black-headed kingfisher:

• Average size from 28 - 30 cm
• The head is jet black, the long beak is bright red.
• Back - wings are dark blue, chest - belly are creamy white, tail is light blue
• Short legs are bright red
• Diverse foods such as shrimp, fish, insects, mice, snakes, frogs, toads,...

Crested Kingfisher

Adorable appearance of a crested kingfisher.

Crested kingfisher, also known as giant kingfisher, erect-head kingfisher, scientific name Ceryle lugubris, is a large kingfisher species, rare in Vietnam because they often live in rocky streams, waterfalls in deep, deserted mountainous areas with little contact with humans.

Characteristics of crested kingfisher :

• Very large size with length from 41 - 43 cm
• The head has an upright color with two alternating black and white colors, very majestic.
• The fur is white mixed with black with many stripes and spots like marble.
• Big, pointed black beak with white base
• Short dark gray legs
• Main food is small fish, shrimp or aquatic insects.

Kingfisher

Image of a kingfisher holding a small shrimp.

The ring-necked kingfisher, also known as the ring-necked kingfisher, with the scientific name Halcyon chloris, is a species of kingfisher commonly distributed in the South of our country, especially in coastal areas, mangrove forests, islands, cajuput forests,... standing out with its special "white collar".

Characteristics of the kingfisher:

• Average size from 22 - 25 cm
• The head and back are dark blue, the face - neck - belly are white with a wide white ring on the neck that looks like a "necklace"
• Large beak, red-orange or dark gray
• Short legs, light gray
• It is an omnivorous species with foods such as fish, shrimp, small crabs, lizards, insects, frogs, toads,...

Interesting facts about kingfishers

Below are some interesting facts about kingfishers that you've probably never heard of. Let's find out now.

• Kingfishers are a favorite bird of photographers because of their bright colors and interesting hunting behavior - they are also known as the “muses” of professional photographers.
• Not all kingfishers live near water, typically the red-billed kingfisher (red-billed kingfisher) only lives in dense forests, swamps and hunts on land.
• The kingfisher's bright colors are not due to pigments but to the microscopic structure that reflects light - structural color
• Kingfishers always beat their prey to immobilize and soften it before swallowing.
• Although their name is “kingfisher”, not all kingfishers eat fish, they can eat shrimp, insects, lizards, mice,...

Through the above article, nicebirds.net has shared with you a lot of information related to kingfishers , hoping you have the most profound insight into this unique and beautiful group of birds. They are not only a vivid highlight for nature but also show the biodiversity of our country.

If you want to discover more species of ornamental birds or other beautiful, unique, and strange bird groups, please read the next articles in our Blog section. See you soon!