Fun Banded Kingfisher Facts For Kids

Banded kingfishers refer to a number of colorful kingfisher bird species which belong to the Alcedinidae family. These tropical birds can be found living in Southeast Asia, with the ideal banded kingfisher bird habitat being low lying moist forests and shallow rivers.

Like most kingfishers they are carnivorous in nature, supplementing their diet with a healthy amount of small fish and various insects.

They can easily be identified by their large, bright orange or black bills and their brilliant bright coloring. Their wings usually have colorful speckling on their wings, the full beauty of which can be seen when they open them to fly.

They have loud, whistling calls, which they use to communicate with each other. They also respond to recordings of their own calls, which can help to pinpoint their location.

To learn more about this amazing bird, read on! You can also find more interesting birds on our belted kingfisher and common kingfisher pages.

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Banded Kingfisher Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a banded kingfisher?

The banded kingfisher is a type of tropical bird which is commonly found in Southeast Asia.

What class of animal does a banded kingfisher belong to?

The banded kingfisher belongs to the class of Aves just like green kingfisher.

How many banded kingfisher are there in the world?

The exact population of these birds is unknown, however since their status is of Least concern we can assume that they are available in plenty. The blue banded kingfisher on the other hand is Critically Endangered, with less than 250 individuals left in the wild.

Where does a banded kingfisher live?

The banded kingfisher distribution can be found mostly in low-lying forests in South-east Asia territory. They can be observed in countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos and Malaysia, where the weather is warm and tropical. The Javan blue banded kingfisher is endemic to Java, whereas the indigo banded kingfisher is an endemic species of the Philippines.

What is a banded kingfisher's habitat?

These species can be found living in South-east Asia in tropical, low lying rainforests with warm and humid climates. They nest near shallow rivers and streams, mangrove forests and dry forests.

Who do banded kingfisher live with?

Banded kingfishers are known to be solitary birds, living in their nest and hunting alone for most of the year. However, male and female kingfishers pair up during breeding season in order to mate and lay eggs, sharing a nest during this period.

How long does a banded kingfisher live?

The exact lifespan of these species is unknown, however the average lifespan for kingfishers is five to ten years, so their life expectancy will fall within this range.

How do they reproduce?

The breeding season for these birds falls between February to May. During this season, male and female birds will pair up to breed.

It is unclear whether they form long term breeding pairs, as they live alone for most of the year, only coming together for breeding purposes.

A nest is built by digging a hole in a shallow riverbank, in an empty termite nest or in the hollow of a tree. After the mating process, the female will lay two to five white eggs in the nest, which are incubated until the young hatch.

What is their conservation status?

Though the banded kingfisher is extinct in Singapore, it is commonly observed in other Southeast Asian countries, its status being of Least Concern. However, the blue banded kingfisher is Critically Endangered in the wild.

Banded Kingfisher Fun Facts

What do banded kingfisher look like?

Both male and female sexes of the banded kingfisher (Lacedo pulchella) bird species look different in appearance. Their most defining feature is their large, bright orange bill which is prominent on both sex.

The male has a bright blue cap with rich chestnut cheeks and fore head, with its breast and underparts ranging from light brown to white. Its wings and tail are lack with repeating blue bands.

The female has coffee-colored wings and tail striped with black, with white breast and abdomen laced with black marks.

The indigo and blue banded variety are similar in form to the banded kingfisher, the only difference being that the indigo kingfisher has a blue head and body, and the blue banded bird is black with  vivid blue bands, both having bright blue speckling on their wings and tail.

Both females have a black brown color scheme, with their bill being orange-black in color and breast commonly being chestnut.

When these birds fly, the full extent of their wings can be seen, with their mesmerizing patterns and colors.

How cute are they?

The large bill possessed by these birds can make them look quite comical in a cute way. Their stunning color palette and attractive patterning makes them extremely eye-catching just like Guam kingfisher. The female, despite not being as colorful as the male, still has striking features.

How do they communicate?

The banded kingfisher communicates with a long, whistling call, followed by around 15 repetitions of a 'chiwiu' sound. It will often respond to recordings or imitations of its call, making it very easy to locate.

How big is a banded kingfisher ?

The banded kingfisher is averagely 7.9 in (20 cm) long. It is approximately the same length as the common budgerigar, though most of the kingfishers length is owing to its large, prominent beak. Male and female kingfishers are approximately the same size.

How fast can a banded kingfisher swim?

Since the banded kingfisher bird makes its sustenance on various insects and lizards and not on fish like most kingfishers, it does not need to live near water. There are no records of how fast this species of bird can swim as it is not commonly observed in the water.

Though the indigo and blue-banded kingfishers sustain themselves on fish, they do not swim in order to hunt them, preferring to perch on low branches and dive for them instead.

Kingfishers are known to dive at speeds of 25 mph (40.2 kph), making it almost impossible for their prey to escape. They are also magnificent flyers, darting over the water at high speeds.

How much does a banded kingfisher weigh?

The weight of banded kingfisher birds is unknown, it falls in the same range of length as the white-throated kingfisher which weighs 2.3-2.8 oz (65.2-79.3 g), hence we can assume that the banded kingfisher will clock in within this weight range as well.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names for the different sexes, with males being called cocks and females hens.

What would you call a baby banded kingfisher ?

Young banded kingfishers are called as fledglings or chicks.

What do they eat?

They mostly prey on small lizards or insects like worms which are found in their habitat. However, the Javan blue banded kingfisher bird, which can be found near rivers and streams in Indonesia, has a mostly piscivorous diet and can be seen hunting for fish with its bill.

The indigo banded kingfisher prefers to hunt and eat aquatic insects and small fish, found in shallow streams and rivers. It uses a perch as an observation point, diving into the water to then attack its prey.

Are they dangerous?

No, this bird species is not of any danger to humans unless they are provoked or attacked, or their territory is encroached upon. If attacked, they may swoop upon the threat and retaliate with their beaks.

Would they make a good pet?

No, being wild birds, they would not make very good pets. It would be very inconvenient for pet owners as they would be difficult to train and maintain, hence its better to let them live in their natural territory, near the water.

Did you know....

The banded Kingfisher is the only member of the Lacedo genus.

Contrary to popular belief, these birds do not hunt by swimming, instead preferring to observe their prey from a perch before diving down to the water to catch it with its beak.

The banded kingfisher does not usually eat fish, unlike other kingfishers,

How many eggs do banded kingfisher lay?

This bird species can be found making its nest in hollow, rotting tree trunks and abandoned tree termite nests. The female lays two to five white eggs after the mating process, which are incubated in these nests until the young hatch. Banded kingfisher bird eggs are white in color.

Do banded kingfisher migrate?

No, these birds do not migrate. The optimum banded kingfisher bird range lies in Southeast Asia, where the weather is warm in summer and mild in winter, having pleasant weather all year round. This eliminates any need for these birds to relocate for the winter.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these palm cockatoo facts and great hornbill facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable banded kingfisher coloring pages.

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