Alcedo peninsulae
The Malaysian Blue-banded Kingfisher, *Alcedo peninsulae*, is a breathtaking jewel of the Southeast Asian rainforests. This small but striking kingfisher measures approximately 13-14 cm in length, weighing about 15-20 grams, with a wingspan rarely exceeding 20 cm. Its plumage is a dazzling spectacle, featuring an iridescent deep blue crown and upperparts, contrasted sharply with a bright rufous breast and flanks. A distinctive iridescent blue breast band, edged with black, gives the species i...
This species inhabits dense, primary and secondary evergreen rainforests, typically along clear, fast-flowing streams and small rivers. It is generally found in lowlands up to submontane elevations, usually below 1,000 meters.
Its diet primarily consists of small fish and aquatic insects, which it catches by diving from a perch into clear water.
The Malaysian Blue-banded Kingfisher is a largely solitary and diurnal bird, often found perching motionless on a low branch overlooking its preferred stream, often within the shaded canopy. Its primary foraging strategy is the classic "perch-and-plunge," where it dives headfirst into the water t...
The Malaysian Blue-banded Kingfisher (*Alcedo peninsulae*) is a resident species distributed across the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Its range encompasses countries such as Malaysia (both Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo), Indonesia (Sumatra and Kalimantan), Brunei, and parts of ...
Near Threatened
- The Malaysian Blue-banded Kingfisher is considered one of the most beautiful and elusive kingfishers in Southeast Asia. - Males and females can be differentiated by their bill color: males have an entirely dark bill, while females have a reddish lower mandible. - Unlike many kingfishers that pr...