Black-capped Kingfisher

An unmistakable mid-sized kingfisher with a jet black head, white collar, and blood-red bill. It has purple-blue upperparts and pale orange-rufous underparts. Throat is white, blue tail has black underside, and in flight, white flashes on the underwings are conspicuous. Juvenile is duller blue with a small rufous-buff spot in front of the eye, a buffy collar, and dusky scaling on the breast. Calls similar to White-throated Kingfisher, but Black-capped’s are slightly higher-pitched. Frequents mangrove swamps and coastal wetlands, but often wanders up into hill streams.

The black-capped kingfisher in Sri Lanka is found in coastal areas, including mangrove forests, estuaries, and rivers. It can also be found far inland during migration.

The black-capped kingfisher's diet in Sri Lanka consists mainly of fish and crabs in coastal areas, and insects in inland areas.