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Superlative in their colourful plumage and sleek appearance, Kingfishers are amongst the most unmistakable of bird groups.  Tree Kingfishers (or Wood Kingfishers), presented here, comprise the family Halcyonidae (the other two kingfisher families being the River Kingfishers and Pied Kingfishers). Kingfishers are believed to have evolved within Southeast Asia and then radiated to other parts of the tropics.

Tree Kingfishers have stout bodies, short tails and  long, thick, powerful bills. Many inhabit forested areas far from any water body, and thus fishes form only part of their diet which also  includes insects and small invertebrates, particularly lizards, which are plucked on the wing from tree branches. They nest in tree holes and termite mounds.

If disturbed near a nesting site, these birds fly silently away. Once at a safe distance they call loudly to distract the attention of the intruder.

Tree Kingfishers are a diverse group : in Southeast Asia 20 species or more are recognised, and this number rises to more than 30 when those species from New Guinea whose ranges extend into easternmost Indonesia are included.    

Collared Kingfisher (Mangrove Kingfisher)
Todirhamphus chloris
Habitat : Secondary forest
Location : West Coast, Singapore

Black-capped Kingfisher
Halcyon pileata
Habitat : Swampy lake
Location : West Coast, Singapore

Banded Kingfisher (male)
Lacedo pulchella
Habitat : Lowland primary forest, near freshwater swamp forest.
Location : Panti, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia

Stork-billed Kingfisher
Pelargopsis capensis
Habitat : Mangrove estuary
Location : Sungei Buloh, Singapore

White-throated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
Habitat : Secondary forest
Location : West Coast, Singapore

Collared Kingfisher (Mangrove Kingfisher)
Todirhamphus chloris
Habitat : Coastal mangrove
Location : Sungei Buloh, Singapore

Forest Kingfisher
Todirhamphus macleayii
Habitat : Lower montane primary rainforest
Location : Central highlands, New Guinea