Image via Macaulay Library
Blue-eared Kingfisher
- Scientific name
- Alcedo meninting
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Conservation status
- Least concern
- Habitat
- Wetland swamp
- Wing shape
- Pointed
- Tail shape
- Square
Where it came from
The Blue-eared Kingfisher, scientifically classified as Alcedo meninting, is a small, forest-dwelling bird distributed across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It thrives in dense, shaded riparian habitats, where its distinctively pointed wings allow for swift, direct flight through thick vegetation. Evolutionarily adapted for a life of ambush predation near water, the bird relies on its stable, square-shaped tail to provide balance during short, darting movements.
First described in 1839 by the naturalist Thomas Horsfield, the species remains a subject of admiration among ornithologists for its intense iridescent blue plumage and deep rufous underparts. Its design is characterized by a compact, robust frame that maximizes speed within the canopy. While it is not a subject of man-made manufacture, its biological form has been widely documented in 19th-century natural history illustrations, notably appearing in the works of John Gould, who sought to capture the brilliant, metallic hues of the species for the study of tropical avifauna.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
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About Blue-eared Kingfisher
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