Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pelargopsis ("stork appearance") capensis ("Cape of Good Hope" - erroneously)

Adult Stork-billed Kingfisher (subspecies P. c. malaccensis) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Pelargopsis capensis malaccensis
Weight: 140-220g  /  Length: 35-41cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the largest of all Kingfishers, and certainly the biggest within it's range, the Stork-billed is a large powerful predator for the family, hunting not only fish but crabs, frogs, rodents and young birds.  It's large size and powerful bill give it a bolder demeanour, and it will apparently chase away eagles and other large predators.  It is found in various locations across Singapore, but compared to Collared and White-throated it is shyer, and favours larger and less disturbed habitat.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Genus: Pelargopsis
SUBSPECIES: P. c. capensis, P. c. burmanica, P. c. intermedia, P. c. osmastoni, P. c. malaceensis, P. c. cyanopteryx, P. c. simalurensis, P. c. sodalis, P. c. nesoeca, P. c. isoptera, P. c. innominata, P. c. floresiana, P. c. javana, P. c. gouldi, P. c. gigantea

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A local resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP:Several at Sungei Buloh

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto