A Malaysian Birder: Kingfishers of Peninsular Malaysia

Family:

Alcedinidae

Total genus in Peninsular Malaysia: 7

Lacedo, Pelargopsis, Halcyon, Todiramphus, Actenoides, Alcedo, Ceyx

Total species in Peninsular Malaysia: 12

Based on the taxonomic updates from eBird (Clements) and Birds of the World, here is the definitive list of Kingfisher species and their subspecies found across Malaysia. This list now reflects the official split of the Black-backed and Rufous-backed Dwarf-Kingfishers into two distinct species.

Malaysian Kingfisher Checklist (Alcedinidae)

1. Banded Kingfisher – Lacedo pulchella

L. p. pulchella — Peninsular Malaysia.
L. p. melanops — Borneo. (Male has a distinct black face mask).

2. Stork-billed Kingfisher – Pelargopsis capensis

P. c. malaccensis — Peninsular Malaysia.
P. c. javana — Borneo.

3. Ruddy Kingfisher – Halcyon coromanda

H. c. coromanda — Migrant. (Larger, occurs throughout Malaysia during winter).
H. c. minor — Resident. (Smaller, darker, primarily restricted to mangroves).

4. White-throated Kingfisher – Halcyon smyrnensis

H. s. perpulchra — Found throughout Malaysia.

5. Black-capped Kingfisher – Halcyon pileata

Monotypic — Common winter visitor and passage migrant to all of Malaysia.

6. Collared Kingfisher – Todiramphus chloris

T. c. humii — Peninsular Malaysia.
T. c. collaris — Borneo.

7. Rufous-collared Kingfisher – Actenoides concretus

A. c. concretus — Peninsular Malaysia.
A. c. borneanus — Borneo.

8. Malaysian Blue-banded Kingfisher – Alcedo euryzona

Monotypic — Found in Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Note: Is it possible that the Bornean population can be treated as a separate species from the Malaysian Blue-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo peninsulae)? or perhaps a subspecies?

9. Blue-eared Kingfisher – Alcedo meninting

A. m. verrauxii — Found throughout Malaysia.

10. Common Kingfisher – Alcedo atthis

A. a. bengalensis — Common winter visitor to both Peninsular and Borneo.

11. Black-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher – Ceyx erithaca

C. e. erithaca — Primarily a migrant in the Peninsula; rare in Borneo. (Dark blue/black mantle).

12. Rufous-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher – Ceyx rufidorsa

C. rufidorsa rufidorsa — Common resident in both Peninsular and Borneo (Orange/Rufous mantle).

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This page is created on January 2023 and update on February 2026 by

Cheong Weng Chun (malaysianbirder),

BSc Forestry majoring in Parks and Recreation Management (UPM),

Licensed Tourist Guide TG8409

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Check out the following bird families:

Woodpeckers of Peninsular Malaysia

Kingfishers of Peninsular Malaysia

Owls of Peninsular Malaysia

Hornbills of Peninsular Malaysia

Babblers of Peninsular Malaysia

Broadbills of Peninsular Malaysia

Bee-eaters of Malaysia

Barbets of Peninsular Malaysia

Pittas of Peninsular Malaysia

Pheasants and Partridges of Peninsular Malaysia

Sunbirds and Spiderhunters of Peninsular Malaysia

Flowerpeckers of Peninsular Malaysia

Trogons of Peninsular Malaysia

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Banded Kingfisher – Lacedo pulchella

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Stork-billed Kingfisher – Pelargopsis capensis

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Ruddy Kingfisher – Halcyon coromanda
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White-throated Kingfisher – Halcyon smyrnensis
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Black-capped Kingfisher – Halcyon pileata
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Collared Kingfisher – Todiramphus chloris
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Rufous-collared Kingfisher – Actenoides concretus

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Malaysian Blue-banded Kingfisher – Alcedo euryzona
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Blue-eared Kingfisher – Alcedo meninting

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Common Kingfisher – Alcedo atthis

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Black-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher – Ceyx erithaca
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Rufous-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher – Ceyx rufidorsa

Family:

Alcedinidae

Total genus in Peninsular Malaysia: 7

Lacedo, Pelargopsis, Halcyon, Todiramphus, Actenoides, Alcedo, Ceyx

Total species in Peninsular Malaysia: 12

Malaysian Kingfisher Checklist (Alcedinidae)

1. Banded Kingfisher – Lacedo pulchella

L. p. pulchella — Peninsular Malaysia.
L. p. melanops — Borneo. (Male has a distinct black face mask).

2. Stork-billed Kingfisher – Pelargopsis capensis

P. c. malaccensis — Peninsular Malaysia.
P. c. javana — Borneo.

3. Ruddy Kingfisher – Halcyon coromanda

H. c. coromanda — Migrant. (Larger, occurs throughout Malaysia during winter).
H. c. minor — Resident. (Smaller, darker, primarily restricted to mangroves).

4. White-throated Kingfisher – Halcyon smyrnensis

H. s. perpulchra — Found throughout Malaysia.

5. Black-capped Kingfisher – Halcyon pileata

Monotypic — Common winter visitor and passage migrant to all of Malaysia.

6. Collared Kingfisher – Todiramphus chloris

T. c. humii — Peninsular Malaysia.
T. c. collaris — Borneo.

7. Rufous-collared Kingfisher – Actenoides concretus

A. c. concretus — Peninsular Malaysia.
A. c. borneanus — Borneo.

8. Malaysian Blue-banded Kingfisher – Alcedo euryzona

Monotypic — Found in Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Note: Is it possible that the Bornean population can be treated as a separate species from the Malaysian Blue-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo peninsulae)? or perhaps a subspecies?