General

Collared Kingfisher: Medium kingfisher with bright blue back, wings, and tail, snow white underparts and collar, brown-blue crown, white lores, and black mask extending back to nape. Large, black-gray bill with pink-buff base has slightly upcurved mandible. Medium tail, short pink-brown legs and feet. Feeds on small fish, crabs, lizards, insects, and nestlings of other bird species.

Breeding and Nesting

Collared Kingfisher: Two to seven, round, buff-white eggs are laid on the bare floor of nest cavity. The nest cavity can be a hole in a tree, termite mound, or burrow in an embankment. No nest materials are used. Incubation is first carried out by the female and then then the male. Incubation time is unknown.

Foraging and Feeding

Collared Kingfisher: Feeds on small fish, crabs, lizards, insects, and nestlings of other bird species. Forages by perching on a branch three to six feet above the ground and flying down to catch prey from the ground. Will also fly up from perch to take insects in flight, and plunge dives for fish after hovering over the water.

Vocalization

Collared Kingfisher: Common calls are "kee" or a harsh "kee-yak." Flight call is "chup-weee." Song is a loud, ringing "kee-kee-kee."

Similar Species

Collared Kingfisher: Micronesian Kingfisher is smaller, has rufous orange crown and a thinner eye line. Ruddy Kingfisher is orange and rufous, with a bright red bill.