Stork Billed Kingfisher

Eastern Asia is where you might come across the truly gorgeous Stork-billed Kingfisher, a wonderfully colourful tree-dweller that once more demonstrates the wonder of nature. A big bird for its type, at around 14in long, the strutting male shows off green, blue, grey, buff, and bright red body parts to female onlookers in yet another fabulous display. These birds live in a variety of well-wooded habitats near lakes, rivers and coasts, and are territorial enough to chase away eagles and other intruders.

This is a very large kingfisher, 35 cm in length. The adult has a green back, blue wings and tail, and grey head. Its underparts and neck are buff. The very large bill and legs are bright red. The flight of the Stork-billed Kingfisher is laboured and flapping, but direct. Sexes are similar. There are 15 races, mostly differing in plumage detail, but P. c. gigantea of the Sulu Islands has a white head, neck and underparts. The call of this noisy kingfisher is a low and far reaching peer-por-por repeated every 5 seconds or so as well cackling ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke.
Stork-billed Kingfisher is a species of a variety of well-wooded habitats near lakes, rivers or coasts. It perches quietly whilst seeking food, and is often inconspicuous despite its size. It is territorial and will chase away eagle and other large predators. This species hunts fish, frogs, crabs, rodents and young birds.
Stork-billed Kingfisher digs its nest in a river bank, decaying tree, or a tree termite nest. A clutch of two to five round white eggs is typical.