A colourful bird
The only tree kingfisher and member of the genus Lacedo is the banded kingfisher (Lacedo pulchella).
The 20 cm long banded kingfisher has a powerful red beak and a short crest that it can raise and lower at will.
It displays significant sexual dimorphism in comparison to the majority of its kin.
The mature male has a bright blue crown with a chestnut brow, cheeks, and neck.
All of the top, wing, and tail portions have blue stripes on them.
White in the centre of the belly contrasts with the rufous breast, flanks, and undertail.
The mature female is nearly as attractive as the male, with top portions that are banded in black and rufous. With black bars over her breast and side, her underparts are white.
Only the lowland tropical forests of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos are home to these birds.
The nations concerned include Brunei, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Java.
Unlike other kingfishers, the banded kingfisher can live without ponds or streams in its area.
These birds prefer lowland rainforest, which is typically found below 1100 m in the rest of their range but can be found up to 1700 m in Brunei.
In the treetops, banded kingfishers pursue enormous insects and, occasionally, tiny lizards.
They will, however, occasionally hunt on the ground.
During the breeding season, a nest is built inside a hole in a dead tree trunk or, occasionally, inside a tree termite’s globular nest.
Two to five white eggs are often placed within.
Although rare, this species is ubiquitous across a large portion of its range.
Unfortunately, it is exceedingly rare in Sumatra, rare in Java, and endangered in Singapore.