Birds
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Pelargopsis capensis · also called stork-billed kingfishers
Calling loudly across a forest stream long before it comes into view, a stork-billed kingfisher carries a bill more suited to a wading bird than a typical kingfisher, a powerful tool that lets it hunt everything from fish to small mammals.
Overview
The stork-billed kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis, is a large kingfisher native to wetland and forest habitat across South and Southeast Asia. Its massive, thick red bill unlike that of most other kingfishers, unusually broad diet spanning fish, crabs, mammals, and reptiles, and loud, far-carrying call make it one of the most physically distinctive and dietarily flexible kingfishers found anywhere in Asia.
A bill built for more than fish
The stork-billed kingfisher’s oversized bill reflects a diet far broader than most kingfishers attempt, letting it tackle small mammals and reptiles alongside the fish and crabs that make up a more typical kingfisher’s menu.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable wetland and forest habitat throughout South and Southeast Asia.
Stork-billed Kingfisher: common questions
Why is the stork-billed kingfisher named that?
This species has a massive, thick red bill more reminiscent of a stork than a typical kingfisher's slender bill, a distinctive feature that directly gives the species its common name.
What does the stork-billed kingfisher eat besides fish?
This species has an unusually broad diet for a kingfisher, taking not only fish and crabs but also small mammals, reptiles, and occasionally other birds, a far wider range of prey than most kingfisher species attempt.
How can you tell a stork-billed kingfisher is nearby?
This species has a loud, far-carrying call, often heard echoing across forest streams and wetlands well before the bird itself comes into view.
Where does the stork-billed kingfisher live?
This species is found near a wide range of water bodies, from forest streams and mangroves to larger rivers and lakes, across its range spanning South and Southeast Asia.