Blue-eared kingfisher, Alcedo meninting, also known as the blue-cheeked kingfisher, deep-blue kingfisher, Ceylon blue-eared kingfisher or the Malaysian kingfisher, photographed in the Republic of Singapore.
Image: Marie Louise Ng, 14 April 2011 [velociraptorize].
Question: This lovely mystery bird has a large range but is seldom common anywhere in its range and it is a rare resident of Singapore. However, most people are very familiar with this bird's relatives -- can you identify this mystery bird's taxonomic family and its genus? Of course, you will earn extra smug points by correctly identifying this species and telling me if this is a male or female.
Response: This is an adult blue-eared kingfisher, Alcedo meninting, which is placed in the taxonomic family, alcedinidae. The all-red bill distinguishes this individual as a female. This species is almost identical to the common kingfisher, A. atthis, but is distinguished by its blue ear coverts, darker and more intense cobalt-blue upperparts and its richer chestnut-coloured underparts.
A rare resident in Singapore, this small kingfisher is found in wetlands (brackish or fresh; running or still waters) often at the forest's edge. It is shy; rarely being seen along open waters or in disturbed areas.
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