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, May 2023, Jun 2023, Jul 2023, Aug 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
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Blue-eared Kingfisher. Retrieved on September 26, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/blue-eared-kingfisher.