Collared Kingfisher

Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris is 22 to 29 cm (8.7 to 11.4 in) long and weighs 51 to 90 g (1.8 to 3.2 oz). It varies from blue to green above while the underparts can be white or buff. There is a white collar around the neck, giving the bird its name. Some races have a white or buff stripe over the eye while others have a white spot between the eye and bill. There may be a black stripe through the eye. The large bill is black with a pale yellow base to the lower mandible (although the bird in the photo clearly shows white upper and lower mandibles – why?).

It is most commonly found in coastal areas, particularly in mangrove swamps. It also inhabits farmland, open woodland, grassland and gardens. In some parts of its range, especially on islands, it can be seen further inland, ranging into forest or into mountain areas. Birds often perch conspicuously on wires, rocks or bare branches.

It is also known as the White-collared Kingfisher or Mangrove Kingfisher (but note that Mangrove Kingfisher is the name of an African species / jc). It has a wide range extending from the Red Sea across southern Asia to Polynesia. A number of subspecies and subspecies groups have been split from this species including the Pacific Kingfisher, the Islet Kingfisher, the Torresian Kingfisher, the Mariana Kingfisher, and the Melanesian Kingfisher.

Source: Wikipedia