Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Eumomota (derived from Nahutatl name for Motmots) superciliosa ("eyebrow")

Turquoise-browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Eumomota superciliosa australis
Weight: 65g  /  Length: 34cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The motmots are a group of coraciiformes found exclusively in the Neotropics where they fill a similar ecological niche to rollers and certain kingfisher species as a perch hunter of small vertebrates. The Turquoise-browed motmot in particular has several interesting behaviours - they will way their tail in the presence of predators to indicate to the predator they have detected it and would flee, thus benefiting both species by avoiding pursuit. Additionally, the long "rackets" of the trail are not formed like that, but rather the result of abrasian and preening gradually stripping the shafts bare over time.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Momotidae
Genus: Eumomota
SUBSPECIES: E. s. bipartite, E. s. superciliosa, E. s. vanrossemi, E. s. sylvestris, E. s. apiaster, E. s. euroaustris, E. s. australis
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rican) - Momoto Cejiceleste or Pájaro bobo ("foolish bird")
Found in North West Costa Rica
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

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

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Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Chloroceryle ("green + a bird mentioned by Aristole) americana (of America)

Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana)  at Alajuela, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Chloroceryle americana septentrionalis
Weight: 35-40g  /  Length: 29cm  /  Wingspan: 27cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widely distributed species found from Texas to Southern Argentina including almost the entire of South America East of the Andes. It is a fairly typical kingfisher in behaviour, hunting small fish and other aquatic prey by diving from a perch - in this instance, the wires above the crocodile enclosure at Rescarte Wildlife Rescue Centre.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Genus: Chloroceryle
SUBSPECIES: C. a. hackisukai, C. a. septentrionalis, C. a. americana, C. a. mathewsii, C. a. cabanisii

 - Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Martín Pescador Verde ("Green Fishing Martin")
A locally common resident.
 - COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: One bird seen at Alajuela,

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

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Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Megaceryle (large + a bird mentioned by Aristotle) alcyon (kingfisher)

Adult female Belted Kingfisher (subspecies Mageceryle alycon) at Necedah, Wisconsin, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 113-178g  /  Length: 28-35cm  /  Wingspan: 48-58cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Out of the USA's four regular Kingfisher species, the Belted is by far the most ubiquitous, with the other three largely limited to the Southern Border in Texas. A large bird capable of occupying diverse habitats, it's breeding range stretches as far as Alaska and Winters as far as South America. Unlike many species, it is the female which has the brighter plumage, with the male lacking the orange colouration.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Genus: Megaceryle
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Widely distributed Summer migrant.

 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Heard at several locations, but not seen.

 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: : Seen at Necedah, Wisconsin and Anchorage, Alaska among others

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

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European Roller (Coracias garrulus)

OTHER NAMES: Roller
Latin Etymology: Coracias (a bird name by Aristotle; possibly choughs) garrulus ("chattering")

Adult European Roller (subspecies C. g. garrulus) at Icklington, Suffolk - June 2021

Featured Subspecies: Western European Roller (Coracias garrulus garrulus)
Weight: g/kg  /  Length: 29-32cm  /  Wingspan: 52-58cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

In Europe, there is nothing that can be mistaken for a Roller when you can see the colours - no other species is so decidedly just blue. They are Summer migrant to the Mediterranean where they hunt mostly insects and other invertebrates from high perches such as exposed branches and wires. They are the only Roller species found in Europe.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
FAMILY: Coraciidae
GENUS: Coracias
SUBSPECIES: C. g. garrulus, C. g. semenowi

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An infrequent vagrant

 - A vagrant seen at Icklingham in June 2021.

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

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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 .

Indochinese Roller (Coracias affinis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Coracias (a bird name by Aristotle; possibly choughs) affinis (related or allied)

Adult Indochinese Roller (Coracias affinis) near Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 166-177g  / Length: 30-34cm  / Wingspan: 65-74cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

My first ever typical species of the roller family, a family noted for their electric blue plumage.  They are predators of small vertebrates and insects with a hunting style somewhat similar to shrikes.  The Indochinese Roller is yet another species that is in the stage of split - it is still considered by some authorities to be part of the Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis). The Indochinese, whether it be species or subspecies, has a distinctive indigo patch on it's throat, differentiating it from the nominate Indian. 

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
FAMILY: Coraciidae
GENUS: Coracias
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer name: ទាវខៀវ ("blue?")

A fairly common resident.

SINGAPORE / CAMBODIA 2019 TRIP - Two seen near outskirts of Siem Reap

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

Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Ceryle (a bird mentioned by Aristotle) rudis ("rude")

Three Pied Kingfisher - one male, two female (subspecies C. r. leucomelanaurus) at Florican Grasslands - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Ceryle rudis leucomelanurus
Weight: 84g  /  Length: 25cm  /  Wingspan: 45-47cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Pied Kingfisher is a fairly large and widely distributed member of the family, found across Southern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.  Really, any new Kingfisher species is always a treat, but I felt particularly pleased with our sightings of this bird - right at the beginning of the day, a single bird hovering for food near where we had stopped was quickly supplanted by a whole family of these striking birds, first on a gatepost, then on the opposite bank.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Genus Ceryle
SUBSPECIES: C. r. rudis, C. r. leucomelanurus, C. r. travancoreensis, C. r. insignis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer: កដបខ្មៅ-ស ("black bottle")  

A locally reasonably common resident

 - Seen in reasonable numbers at the Florican Grassland Reserve

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

Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Merops ("bee-eater") philippinus ("of the Philippines")

Adult Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) near Lower Pierce Reservoir - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 29-43g  /  Length: 23-26cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A colourful species of Bee-eater found in Southern Asia - in Penninsula Malaysia and Singapore it functionally carries out a switching act the the Blue-throated Bee-eater, whereby this species is a Winter visitor and the Blue-throated a summer one.  It has in the past been regarded as conspecific with similar species in Western Asia and Africa, but is currently regarded as separate.  Out of the Bee-eaters I have seen to date, it is the most cosmopolitan, being seen regularly in artificial habitats such as suburban Singapore.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Meropidae
Genus: Merops
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ត្រដេវក្បាលបៃតង ("Green Bee-eater"?)

A fairly common resident

 - Seen at Prek Toal and Florican Grassland Reserve

SINGAPORE - A fairly common Winter migrant

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen around Lower Pierce Reservoir and surrounding area

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

Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)

OTHER NAMES: White-collared Kingfisher, Mangrove Kingfisher

Latin Etymology: Todiramphus ("Small bird, bill") chloris ("green")

Adult Collared Kingfisher (subspecies T. c. humii) at Malacca, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Todiramphus chloris humii 
Weight: 51-90g  /  Length: 24cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

I must admit that when I first saw this bird on a dead tree looking at me face on, it looked slightly like a bedraggled fledgling house crow and it wasn't until I continued along the route I was walking I realised that in fact it was a new species of Kingfisher for me.  As you can probably guess from my mistake, this is another kingfisher that is substantially larger than the Eurasian Kingfisher.  Unlike the white-throated however, this is a bird specialized to the coast and mangroves in particular.  However, this bird (and indeed, it's partner I saw together with it a few minutes later) had a slightly different habitat - under a massive road-bridge across the mouth at the river at Malacca at the side of what was essentially brownfield site.  However, even so it posed for me very nicely and made a great final new bird of the trip.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes  
Family: Alcedinidae  
Genus: Todiramphus
SUBSPECIES: T. c. abyssinicus, T. c. kalbaensis, T. c. humii, T. c. vidali, T. c. armstrongi, T. c. davisoni, T. c. occipitalis, T. c. chloropterus, T. c. azelus, T. c. palmeri, T. c. laubmannianus, T. c. collaris, T. c. chloris, T. c. teraokai

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Pekaka Bakau ("Mangrove Kingfisher") 

A locally common resident.  

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A pair near the river mouth in Malacca

SINGAPORE - A locally common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Numerous at Sungei Buloh, a pair at Lower Pierce Reservoir

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

Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis)

OTHER NAMES: Common Indian Bee-eater

Latin Etymology: Merops ("bee-eater") viridis ("green")

Adult Blue-throated Bee-eater (subspecies M. v. viridis) in Malacca, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Merops viridis viridis
Weight: 34-41g  /  Length: 21cm +9cm for tail streamers  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Blue-throated Bee-eater is a fairly typical member of it's family in many ways, but unlike Europe with it's single species, it shares Malaysia with two others.  Most notably, perhaps is how it alternates with another species of Bee-eater - the Blue-tailed - in it's migration pattern - the Blue-tail arrives as the Blue-throated leaves and vise versa.  It is also unusual in that they are one of the few migrants to breed in Malaysia - normally it destination for species travelling to warmer climes away from their breeding grounds.  I found them to be a bit less gregarious and a lot quieter than European Bee-eater, making them a bit trickier to locate.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Meropidae
Genus: Merops
SUBSPECIES: M. v. viridis, M. v. americanus 

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Beberek Leher Biru ("Blue-neck Bee-eater")
A fairly common Summer migrant

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Seen in small numbers on several days in both Kuala Lumpur and Malacca

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

Oriental Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)

OTHER NAMES: Eastern Broad-billed Roller, Dollarbird 

Latin Etymology: Eurystomus ("broad bill") orientalis ("oriental")

Adult Dollarbird (subspecies E. o. orientalis) at Angkor Wat, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Eurystomus orientalis orientalis
Weight: 123g  /  Length: 30cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Dollarbird is a member of the roller family found along much of South-East Asia as well as Eastern India and Australia as well as China and Southern Japan.  It's name comes from the white "silver dollar" like markings on the underside of it's wings which are visible in flight.  Compared to the European Roller in Europe it is a species that has adapted better to modern human living - the clearance of forest has allowed it to expand it's range in Malaysia, and can be found in suburban areas as was the case with this bird.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
FAMILY: Coraciidae
GENUS: Eurystomus
SUBSPECIES: E. o abundus, E. o. deignani, E. o. orientalis, E. o. gigas, E. o. oberholseri, E. o. connectens, E. o. latouchei, E. o. waigiouensis, E. o. pacificus, E. o. crassirostris, E. o. solomonensis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ទាវព្រៃ

A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at Angkor Wat

MALAYSIA - Malay - Tiong Batu 

A fairly widespread but not especially common resident

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A single bird in Kuala Lumpur 

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

White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)

OTHER NAMES: White-breasted Kingfisher*, Smyrna Kingfisher 

Latin Etymology: Halcyon ("kingfisher") smyrnensis ("of the town of Izmir")

Adult White-throated Kingfisher (subspecies H. s. perpulchra) at Bishan Park, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Halycon smyrnensis perpulchra
Weight: 60-88g  /  Length: 26-28cm  /  Wingspan: 40-43cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Coming from Britain with our single small and elusive species of kingfisher, the White-throated Kingfisher is both surprisingly large and surprisingly ubiquitous.  Most notably perhaps of the contrasts though is that it is not strictly associated with water - while I did see them along rivers and streams, I also saw them in such incongruous locations as on a lamp-post over a motorway or on the power-lines over a railway.  This is a result of their more varied diet - unlike the fish specialist Common Kingfisher, here they are more general predators who also hunt lizards and invertebrates.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Genus: Halycon
SUBSPECIES: H. s. smyrnensis, H. s. fusca, H. s. saturatior, H. s. perpulchra, H. s. fokiensis, H. s. gularis* 

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Pekaka Dada Putih ("White-Chested Kingfisher")

Fairly common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Seen in small numbers throughout the trip in many locations including Kuala Lumpur
SINGAPORE - Fairly common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One at Bishan Park and a later bird in Ang Mo Kio.

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

*This is another case of name confusion based on splits - the White-breasted Kingfisher is a Philippine equivalent Halycon gularis, which is either regarded as a full species of a subspecies of this one. .

European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

OTHER NAMES: Bee-eater

Latin Etymology: Merops ("bee-eater" from Greek) apiaster ("bee eater" from Latin)

                                         Adult European Bee-eater (subspecies Merops apiaster) at El Pardo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 55g  /  Length: 25-29cm  /  Wingspan: 36-40cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The European Bee-eater is probably the most colourful species on the entire continent - a brilliant bird of yellow, turquoise, green and orange.  They are primarily found in Mediterranean in sandy banks on cliffs or river sides, often in large colonies.  As colourful as they are, they are equally noisy a species, with their distinctive liquid sounding call often alerting you to their presence long before you actually see them.  A feeder of large insects like wasps and bees which make up the majority of their diet, they apparently can eat around 250 a day.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Meropidae
Genus: Merops
Subspecies: none (monotypic)

 - Sighting Locations -
ITALY - Italian - Il gruccione comune ("Common Bee-eater")
A locally reasonably common Summer migrant.
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - One at Fiume Ciane 

SPAIN - Spanish - Abejaruco común ("Common Bee-eater")

Fairly common Summer migrant, usually seen in flight passing through.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Single individuals seen distantly in flight at Patones and the farmland surrounding Madrid
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A small flock perched around El Pardo and various other sightings including at Arrocampo and Monfrague.

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

Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

OTHER NAMES: Hoopoe 

Latin Etymology: Upupa (phononym of call) epops (Greek name for species)

Adult Eurasian Hoopoe (subspecies - U. e. epops) near Side, Antalya, Turkey - March 2025

Featured Subspecies: Upupa epops epops
Weight: 67g  /  Length: 25-32cm  /  Wingspan: 44-48cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List - Least Concern

I would consider the Hoopoe to be quite easily one of the most attractive species of birds in Europe - a orange with dramatic black and white wings which form long stripes across it's entire back when in flight.  More notable is the large crest on its head which it can display forward or fold back.  In the UK it is a rare but annual vagrant often only staying for a few days at a time, but the odd individual like this one may over winter in the country.  It is much more common in the rest of the old world, being found across most of Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and temperate to tropical Asia.  Subsequently, my guided birding trip from Madrid with Luis Sitges found several Hoopoe throughout the morning, giving some excellent views without the twitching required in this country.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Upupidae
Genus: Upupa
Subspecies: U. e. epops, U. e. orientalis, U. e. ceylonensis, U. e. saturata, U. e. longirostris, U. e. major, U. e. senegalensis, U. e. waibeli

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A regular vagrant.

 - A single bird at Snodland which Wintered in 2013-2014.

ITALY - Italian - L'upupa

A locally reasonably common Summer migrant.

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - One seen at Fiume Ciane 

SPAIN - Spanish - Abubilla 

A fairly common resident.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen in Patones 
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Individuals seen throughout at various locations including El Pardo, Laguna Campillo and Monfrague..

TURKEY  -   Turkish:İbibik ("Hoopoe")
 - ANTALYA 2025 TRIP - Seen in most locations.

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