Blue-eared Kingfisher

Blue-eared Kingfisher

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.

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Subadult female Blue-eared Kingfisher at NTL2. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Blue-eared Kingfisher at Hindhede Nature Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Blue-eared Kingfisher at Jurong Eco Garden. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Male Blue-eared Kingfisher at Pekan Quarry, Ubin. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Subadult female Blue-eared Kingfisher at NTL2. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Blue-eared Kingfishers at NTL2. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Blue-eared Kingfisher at Jurong Eco Garden. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Blue-eared Kingfisher pair at NTL2. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
External Links:

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 July 8, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/blue-eared-kingfisher.

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