Ruddy Kingfisher

Scientific Name: Halcyon coromanda

Malay Name: Pekaka Belacan

Chinese Name: 赤翡翠

Range: Found from Indian subcontinent, China, Korea, Japan to Southeast Asia with more northerly populations wintering south

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: coromanda, major, bangsi, mizorhina, minor, linae, claudiae, rufa, pelingensis, sulana.

Local Subspecies: minor (resident), coromanda (migrant)

Size: 26.5-27 cm

Identification: Adult has bright rufescent plumage, violet-tinged upperside, bluish-white patch on lower back and rump and bright red bill. Juvenile has browner upperparts, brilliant blue (less whitish) lower back and rump, narrow dark brown bars on underparts and brownish orange bill.

Habitat: Forest, forest edge, wooded areas and mangroves.

Behaviour/Ecology: Feeds on fish, crustaceans, and large insects. When in habitat with less running water, they are known to take frogs and other amphibians.

Local Status: Uncommon migrant and rare visitor

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Migratory coromanda can show up at any wooded habitat in Singapore, Sundaic minor thought to still be resident in Pulau Tekong, occasionally found at Pulau Ubin, and sometimes on Singapore island (Sungei Buloh, Lim Chu Kang) during the winter season.

Featured articles:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Halcyon coromanda. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22683234A92979549.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.