Kingfishers from Indonesia

In English, kingfishers are surprisingly covering birds that are actually fishing fish prey, and (very similar in appearance) birds that are hunting on insects and ground prey (French has two different names for them: martins-pêcheurs and martins-chasseurs). Unsurprisingly they leave in different biotopes (river sides and forests).

One of the most attractive aspects of these charming little flying criters is that the have a marvelously colored plumage (and females are usually sharing very similar color patterns). So, wild life photographers are easily attracted to them.

In Indonesia, there is a large number of these species (Islands are very favorable environment to a strong selection leading to a large diversity; They provide long term isolation for species to quickly develop very local characters over long geological eras). During a recent trip, I could assemble a small collection of them. Here is a list of them. Far from exhaustive, but already quite long to my eyes.

Azure kingfisher, Martin-pêcheur à dos bleu (Ceyx azureus)

A nice little kingfisher, somewhat shy though.

Beach kingfisher, Martin-chasseur à tête blanche (Todiramphus saurophagus)

Relatively easy to find on beaches and sea fronts.

Blue-and-white kingfisher, Martin-chasseur des Moluques (Todiramphus diops)

Blue-black kingfisher, Martin-chasseur bleu-noir (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus)

Superb dark blue feathers.

Collared kingfisher, Martin-chasseur à collier blanc (Todiramphus chloris)

Common kingfisher, Martin-pêcheur d’Europe (Alcedo atthis)

The most recognizable one (for Europeans) since it is present thousands of kilometers from Indonesia.

Common paradise-kingfisher, Martin-chasseur à longs brins (Tanysiptera galatea)

Somehow, this kingfisher becomes relatively difficult to photograph if you want to ensure that the tail is appropriately rendered in the picture. And you will easily recognize that it is unting insects instead of fishing in rivers.

Great-billed kingfisher, Martin-chasseur à bec noir (Pelargopsis melanorhyncha)

Green-backed kingfisher, Martin-chasseur moine (Actenoides monachus)

A bird never easily impressed. You could find it anywhere in the forest and it will stay immobile with perfect patience.

Female:

Male:

Hook-billed kingfisher, Martin-chasseur d’Euphrosine (Melidora macrorrhina)

Forget this one, I could not bring any reasonable picture (observed from afar and photographed from a very unflattering low angle).

Little kingfisher, Martin-pêcheur poucet (Ceyx pusillus)

A small guy, always mobile, always impatient to find another place along the river.

Moluccan dwarf-kingfisher, Martin-pêcheur gracieux (Ceyx lepidus)

Ruddy kingfisher, Martin-chasseur violet (Halcyon coromanda)

Spectacular is the word! You would be excused for believing the colors are coming from a failed photography development or from a fake AI-enhanced picture. But it is merely light playing with feathers to give him the looks of a hippie singer.