Pelargopsis amauroptera
The Brown-winged Kingfisher, *Pelargopsis amauroptera*, is a striking and robust member of the Alcedinidae family, distinguished by its impressive size, reaching 35-37 cm in length and weighing between 120-170 grams. Its most prominent field mark is an enormous, bright red bill, contrasting sharply with a dark brown crown and nape. The back is olive-brown, while the wings are a distinctive dark brown, giving the species its common name. Underparts range from a rich yellow-orange to rufous, of...
Primarily found in coastal mangrove forests, estuaries, tidal creeks, and lagoons, often at low elevations near sea level. It occasionally ventures into large rivers with dense riparian vegetation, but its strong preference is for brackish water habitats.
Feeds predominantly on fish, crabs, and prawns, which it catches by diving. It also consumes large insects, small reptiles, and occasionally amphibians.
Typically solitary or found in pairs, the Brown-winged Kingfisher employs a classic perch-and-wait foraging strategy. It perches motionlessly on a branch overlooking water, then dives headfirst to snatch prey with its powerful bill. Daily activity patterns are diurnal, with roosting occurring in ...
The Brown-winged Kingfisher is a resident species found throughout coastal regions of Southeast Asia and parts of the Indian Subcontinent. Its breeding range extends from eastern Bangladesh and coastal West Bengal and Odisha in India, eastward through Myanmar, Thailand, and the Malay Peninsula. I...
Least Concern
- The Brown-winged Kingfisher possesses one of the largest bills proportionally among all kingfisher species, giving it a powerful grip on slippery prey. - Despite its name, its wings are not uniformly brown; rather, they are a deep, dark brown that contrasts with its brighter body plumage. - Unl...