Size & diagnostic markings:- 30 Cm. The Black-capped Kingfisher is a good size and fairly large Kingfisher. The bird has a black crown and side of head. It has white throat, collar and breast. Upper part is blue with black wing while the under part is rufous. The bill is red.

Distribution :-  The bird breeds in India, the Andaman Seas, Southern China, Taiwan and Korea, The bird is a passage migrant in Malaysia

Habitats & preferences:- This is essentially and mangrove forest bird. Staying in the lower storey. Often seen at the coast in open area. Very shy bird and would fly on approach. Seen. very much inland where there are water presence. More likely to be river or ponds.

At 30cm, the Black-capped Kingfisher is a large bird. The bird  is a passage migrant through Malaysia in northern winter. In central peninsula, their presence here is noted to be for a longer period in September/October and once more a much shorter duration in January.

The bird has a preference for Mangrove forest and could appear in good numbers. I have spotted up to 13 birds in a day. This bird also stray into deep forest with waterways. Example in Kemensah beside a small pond and in Raub over a huge river. Far out in the mudflats in Jeram.

I have noticed that over the years, the birds got more sensitive and took flight long before we approach the spot. Its perched on the lower and middle storey, usually fairly open space. It diet in the mangrove forest was good size mud crabs.

In Malaysia, where can the bird be found:- Seen in certain mangrove forest and not all stretches of mangrove. Must make your own research which are preferred spots where not one but a few birds would be hanging round. meeting the bird inland were accidental but on numerous occasions.

With Will would Wander