Wednesday 1 March 2017

Wild Bird Wednesday 240 - White-throated Kingfisher.

As you may have noticed, sometimes get become more than a little amused at the way birds are given their common names.  After all, these names are there to help us sort and understand the world.  However, we end up with larks that are not larks, magpies that arenot magpies and all other manner of strange names.

But this weeks seems even more strange - The White-throated Kingfisher does have a white throat, but it's best field marks are the white patches in its wings and the wonderful teal blue of its back.  Of course, neither of these are mentioned in the common name!  Go figure!

Despite its rather exotic looks the White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) is reasonably common in India, and I got some really good views of this species.

I'm pretty sure that this bird falls into the broad category of 'cracking birds'!







As with almost all of my Indian bird shots these were taken at the Sultanpur National Park.

To join in with WBW just click on the blue button below.  SM

27 comments:

  1. lovely! It really have a different coloring. Odd colors for sure. But as all kingfishers a gorgeous one :) Thanks for sharing!

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  2. Hello, what a cool looking Kingfisher. The colors are beautiful. Another great bird, I wish I could see one day! Thanks for hosting. Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day!

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  3. This was always one of the most common birds I saww in my five visits to India. Named Smyrna Kingfisher then there was always one hanging about the garden as we had breakfast outdoors. Happy days!

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  4. OMG it is beautiful. I looked at the pictures as I scrolled down to link and wondered about the name. Then I came back and read your wordds. How strange somebody named it the way they did. Even if it did have a white-throat, I'd think that amazing teal color would definitely be in its name.

    What a wonder to be able to bird at that National Park. Just amazing. Thank you for hosting, as ever.

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  5. Stewart, those are great shots of an amazing bird. I don't believe I've ever even seen pictures of it. Who could imagine such a creature? Somebody should let you name the birds, though.

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  6. That is one gorgeous Kingfisher! Love the bill! Beautiful photos!

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  7. You can't beat Mother Nature when it comes to color schemes. I sure wish I had a common bird that looked like this. So beautiful and your pictures are excellent. You must have been on a high seeing all of the birds ... and now, poor you, you have to go home to the "common" Australian birds, Ha! Looks like you had a great time. I perused you other posts and saw the mammals. What fun ...

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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  8. Such a beautiful, unusual bird!

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  9. What a striking bird, Stewart!!! I've only seen one Kingfisher here and compared to that one, ours looks like a goofy Blue Jay!!!...:)JP

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  10. They certainly crack me up. Love those colors too.

    Cheers

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  11. Hello Stewart, oh such a colourful bird... that glorious beak. Really wonderful, a compact special creature :D)
    (I have tried to link up just now but it says it's not working at the moment ... I shall try again this afternoon) Cheers!

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  12. Hi Stewart, this is ascetically quite a brown bird but the beautiful teal of it's back and enormous red beak, make you take a second look! Thanks for sharing and thanks for hosting this meme. Greetings Jo

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  13. Fantastic bird to see, a stunner.

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  14. A very colorful bird! Beautiful photos
    I am surprised they didn't call it a Red-billed Kingfisher.
    Hope you are having a great week!

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  15. It's a cracking bird alright! Great shots. Looks like a different bird in the 'front on' shot.

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  16. Stewart, what a colorful bird. Thanks for sharing

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  17. What a beautiful bird! I'd love to get a shot at some of the Kingfishers we have in the States. They are all so colorful and unique.

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  18. A beautiful little bird for sure..great shots..wonderful colors..I wonder if that beak ever throws him off balance..

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  19. Wow, he has a king-sized beak! Love the teal feathers!

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  20. Definitely 'a cracker', Stewart. Super captures!

    Best wishes - - - Richard

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  21. What gorgeous colour! This is definitely a cracker!!

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  22. WOW again these are awesome, what a stunning bird and once again, I must congratulate you on marvelous captures. The images are wonderful!!!

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  23. Hey I'm with you, how about we start a movement for renaming to the teal-cloaked, ruby beaked, white throated Kingfisher!
    From plain Wren x

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