12 Species of Kingfishers Found in The Indian Subcontinent
Kingfisher is known as रामचिरैया or किलकिला in Hindi, There are number of species of Kingfisher found across the India. Few of the Kingfisher are as follows, pictures are taken at different cities and outskirt villages of India.
There are 12 species of kingfishers found in India, these beautiful birds are one of the most fascinating subjects of wildlife photography.
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
The white-throated kingfisher also known as Tree kingfisher is the most commonly seen species of Kingfisher found in the Indian Subcontinent. Tree kingfisher is a resident of urban areas always found sitting on wires or tree and known for loudly calls.
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Common blue kingfisher also known as River Kingfisher is though not so common, found across the river forest of India and an important members of ecosystem. The small kingfisher eat fish, Male has blue upperparts and female has green.
Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)
Pied kingfisher or water kingfisher is a black and white species, best known for habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish. The diving kingfisher mainly feed on fish and as of now there are five subspecies known.
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx erithaca)
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher is the most beautiful kingfisher bird of the Indian subcontinent, endemic across much of the coastal of India and breed only during the southwest monsoon in June. The rainbow-coloured kingfisher popularly known as ODK and also known as Jewel of the Konkan among the bird watchers.
Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
Collared Kingfisher or mangrove kingfisher is a medium-sized kingfisher, most commonly found in coastal area of India. The further subspecies occur locally around the coasts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting)
Blue Eared Kingfisher is small kingfisher species, found in Asia ranging from the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia. The small kingfisher found in more open habitats and almost identical to the common kingfisher but the blue ear coverts. Photo – Prasad Datar
Ruddy Kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda)
The Ruddy Kingfisher distributed from India to Southeast Asia, Found mostly in forested areas, jungles and rainforests. Like all other kingfishers found in India, ruddy kingfisher is also feed on fish, large insects and amphibians.
Crested Kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris)
Crested kingfisher is a large species of kingfisher, found from the jungle of the Indian Subcontinent to coastal of Japan. This mountain bird is a resident of Himalayas and mountain foothills in India. Photo by Manish Nikte (Friend of Prasad Datar)
Blyth’s Kingfisher (Alcedo hercules)
Blyth’s kingfisher is a large sized kingfisher, ranges from Nepal through India and Vietnam, mostly found along the small ponds, lake, rivers and streams.
Brown-winged Kingfisher (Pelargopsis amauroptera)
The brown-winged kingfisher is a beautiful tree kingfisher species found in India, mainly reported from the Sundarbans region of West Bengal from mangrove forest. Image Source- Wiki.
Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis)
Stork-billed kingfisher is another large species of tree kingfisher, lives in a variety of habitats like near water, coastal area and around the rivers. The stork billed kingfisher distributed in the most of the states of India, from Kerala to West Bengal.
Black-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata)
The black-capped kingfisher are migratory and mainly found in coastal and mangrove habitats of the West Bengal. Sundarban mangrove forest is one of the best place to spot 8 species of kingfisher bird in India.
Bhitarkanika and Sundarbans are the only two places in India where one can spot 8 colorful species of Kingfishers in India.
Sundarbans and Bhitarkanika are two largest mangrove forest in India and home to largest living reptiles of the world as well as variety of mangrove birds including 8 Species of Kingfishers out of 12 Species of Kingfishers found in India.
