Ruddy Kingfisher

Ruddy Kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda) is a medium-sized tree kingfisher with rich rufous plumage, a violet sheen across the back and a long red bill. Body shape, bill structure, plumage pattern and voice provide the strongest field characters. Age, sex and season may alter its appearance, so identification should combine several features and careful direct field comparisons with similar species in the same habitat (Wikipedia, general species account).

It inhabits shaded forests, wooded streams and mangroves across eastern and Southeast Asia, hunting fish, crabs, frogs and large insects and nesting in tree cavities or earthen tunnels. Its movements and social behaviour vary through the year, with breeding birds generally more dispersed and non-breeding birds gathering where food is concentrated. Japanese records place it within the country's documented avifauna as a resident, migrant or visitor (Wikipedia, general species account; Wildlife of Japan occurrence records).