Kingfisher

There are over 80 species of kingfishers (Order Coraciiformes Family Alcedinidae) in the world found mainly in tropics. There are colourful birds, with prominent long powerful bills and short tails.

These kingfishers occur in a range of habitats from open country to primary forests. Typically the kingfishers perch upright in an exposed position. Kingfishers which live near rivers and streams, are noted for catching fish and other aquatic creatures. However, the more land-living kingfishers rely on insects, and small reptiles for their food.

Most of the kingfishers nest in holes in banks near water. Some of them, however, use hollows in trees or termite nests. The eggs, in all of them, are white.There are fourteen species of kingfishers in Malaysia. Eleven of these species occur in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, while two are found only in Peninsular Malaysia and one in Sabah and Sarawak.