Scientific Name: Alcedo meninting
Malay Name: Rajaudang Meninting
Chinese Name: 蓝耳翠鸟
Range: Found from the Indian subcontinent to Southern China and Southeast Asia
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: coltarti, phillipsi, scintillans, rufigastra, meninting.
Local Subspecies: meninting
Size: 15.5-16.5 cm
Identification: Resembles Common Kingfisher but smaller and has deeper blue upperparts (without turquoise blue tinge) and blue ear-coverts. Male has all black bill while female has reddish lower mandible. Juvenile has rufous ear-coverts and mostly red bill.
Similar looking species: Common Kingfisher
Habitat: Streams, ponds and suitable water bodies in or near forest and wooded areas.
Behaviour/Ecology: Nest in tunnel excavated at bank of forest streams.
Local Status: Uncommon resident
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Location: Central Catchment Forest, Hindhede Quarry, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Kranji Marsh, Lorong Halus, Sungei Buloh, Jurong ECO Garden and Pulau Ubin.
- Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)
Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, May 2022, Jun 2022, Jul 2022, Aug 2022, Sep 2022, Oct 2022, Nov 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Feb 2023, Mar 2023, Apr 2023
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Blue-eared Kingfisher)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Alcedo meninting. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22683042A92974788.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Singapore Birds Project. (n.d.). Blue-eared Kingfisher. Retrieved on May 30, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/blue-eared-kingfisher.