Photo: J.M.Garg / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Pelargopsis capensis
Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis) — Kingfishers & Rollers of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis) is a member of the Alcedinidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 179 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Coraciiformes
- Family Alcedinidae Kingfishers
- Genus Pelargopsis
- Species capensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 179 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Stork-billed Kingfisher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Stork-billed Kingfisher is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis) is a member of the Alcedinidae family, within the order Coraciiformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 179 g, with a wing length of about 14.7 cm and a tail of around 9.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Stork-billed Kingfisher?
The Stork-billed Kingfisher is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 179 g.
Where does the Stork-billed Kingfisher live?
The Stork-billed Kingfisher is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Stork-billed Kingfisher belong to?
The Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis) belongs to the Alcedinidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Stork-billed Kingfisher eat?
The Stork-billed Kingfisher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Stork-billed Kingfisher migrate?
The Stork-billed Kingfisher is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Stork-billed Kingfisher endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Stork-billed Kingfisher make?
1 real field recording of the Stork-billed Kingfisher — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Stork-billed Kingfisher's range?
The Stork-billed Kingfisher has a mapped global range of about 5.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Alcedinidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Kingfishers & Rollers
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern