Cerulean Kingfisher
Alcedo coerulescens
The Cerulean Kingfisher (Alcedo coerulescens) is a rare kingfisher found only in Indonesia, weighing about 28 g. The cerulean kingfisher is a kingfisher in the subfamily Alcedininae which is native to parts of Indonesia.
About the Cerulean Kingfisher
The cerulean kingfisher is a kingfisher in the subfamily Alcedininae which is native to parts of Indonesia. With an overall metallic blue impression, it is very similar to the common kingfisher, but it is white underneath instead of orange. Males average bluer than females, which have a greenish cast. It is sometimes called the small blue kingfisher but in Indonesia and parts of Asia that name refers to Alcedo atthis.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The cerulean kingfisher is a small kingfisher with a length of 13 cm (5.1 in). The upperparts are a range of shades of blue with white lores and a prominent white patch on each side of the neck. The underparts are white with an azure-blue breast-band. The bill is blackish and the legs are dark brown. The female has duller and slightly greenish plumage and a narrower breast band.
What the Cerulean Kingfisher sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Cerulean Kingfisher can be seen all year round, with peak activity in August. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Cerulean Kingfisher?
- The cerulean kingfisher is a small kingfisher with a length of 13 cm (5.1 in). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Cerulean Kingfisher?
- The Cerulean Kingfisher is a small sized bird weighing about 28 g.
- Where can you see a Cerulean Kingfisher?
- The Cerulean Kingfisher is endemic to Indonesia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What does a Cerulean Kingfisher sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Cerulean Kingfisher on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Cerulean Kingfisher?
- The Cerulean Kingfisher is most easily confused with the Shining-blue Kingfisher, the Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher and the Blyth's Kingfisher.
- Is the Cerulean Kingfisher endangered?
- The Cerulean Kingfisher is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Cerulean Kingfisher for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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