Black-capped kingfisher images

   ›      ›   Black-capped kingfisher (Halcyon pileata) images

The black-capped kingfisher (Halcyon pileata) belongs to the family Alcedinidae under the order Coraciiformes.

The Halcyon is a genus tree kingfishers, characterized by large or medium size, large head, long heavy bill, short tail and bright color. They prefer various woodland habitats. They usually occupy an open perch and 'sit and wait' for the slow moving prey on the land or water.

The Halcyon pileata species, apart from fish, feed on a variety prey like crustaceans, amphibians, annelid worms, molluscs, insects, spiders, centipedes and reptiles. The prey is caught by the bill and killed before swallowing it. Usually the prey is not dismembered.

The Halcyon pileata species are monogamous and highly territorial, nesting in earth banks, tree holes and termite mounds. Both the sexes look alike. There is always prior courtship before pairing and mating. Both parents dig the tunnel nest, incubate the eggs and care for the chicks.

The Halcyon pileata species are much sought for the blue feathers for their use in the hat trade. In China, hand-fans are made with the feathers.
Black-capped kingfisher (Halcyon pileata)
1.Image by Jason Thompson


Black-capped kingfisher (Halcyon pileata)
2.Image by Sumeet Moghe

Black-capped kingfisher (Halcyon pileata)
3.Image by Francesco Veronesi

Black-capped kingfisher (Halcyon pileata)
4.Image by JJ Harrison

Black-capped kingfisher (Halcyon pileata)
5.Image by Dibyendu Ash

Black-capped kingfisher (Halcyon pileata)
6.Image by Rahul Alvares

Black-capped kingfisher (Halcyon pileata)
7.Image by Rahul Alvares

Black-capped kingfisher (Halcyon pileata)
8.Image by Charles Lam
Popular posts in Birds of India
Collared scops owl European nightjar
Slaty-breasted rail Western water rail
Eastern water rail Corncrake
Brown crake White-browed crake
White-breasted waterhen Saker falcon
Little crake Baillon's crake
Ruddy-breasted crake Watercock
Common moorhen Common coot
Siberian crane Sarus crane
Common crane Black-necked crane
Hooded crane Slaty-legged crake
Yellow-legged buttonquail Common buttonquail
Barred buttonquail Masked finfoot
Andaman crake Demoiselle crane
Common kestrel Red-necked falcon
Rufous-bellied eagle Pale-capped pigeon
Blossom-headed parakeet Indian cuckoo
Oriental scops owl Large-tailed nightjar
White-rumped spinetail Chestnut-headed bee-eater images
Blue-eared kingfisher Blue-bearded bee-eater
Common hoopoe Indian skimmer
Pomarine jaeger Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse
Speckled wood pigeon Blue-winged parakeet
Common cuckoo Alexandrine parakeet
Jacobin cuckoo Eastern grass-owl
Andaman scops owl Sri Lanka frogmouth
Great eared nightjar Crested treeswift
Rock dove Rose-ringed parakeet
Chestnut-winged cuckoo Common barn-owl
Mountain scops-owl Hodgson's frogmouth


1.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/79492850@N00/8434853727 (cropped)
Image author: Jason Thompson | License: CC BY 2.0 as on 4/10/17
2.Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Capped_Kingfisher.jpg (cropped)
Author: Sumeet Moghe | License: CC BY-SA 3.0
3.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/francesco_veronesi/16317943955/ (cropped)
Author: Francesco Veronesi | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 4/10/17
4.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Halcyon_pileata_-_Phra_Non.jpg (cropped)
Author: JJ Harrison (jjharrison89@facebook.com | License: CC BY-SA 3.0
5.Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Black-capped_Kingfisher_Sundarbans_West_Bengal_India_30.12.2014.jpg (cropped)
Author: Dibyendu Ash | License: CC BY-SA 3.0
6.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rahulalvares/13912122075/ (cropped)
Author: Rahul Alvares | License: CC BY-NC 2.0 as on 4/10/17
7.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rahulalvares/8522153006/ (cropped)
Author: Rahul Alvares | License: CC BY-NC 2.0 as on 4/10/17
8.Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kclama/10602414776/in/photostream/ (cropped)
Author: Charles Lam | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 4/10/17
Current topic in Birds of India: Black-capped kingfisher (Halcyon pileata) images.
Contact State Tourism or travel agents for bird watching and wildlife tours.