Brown-winged Kingfisher      Pelargopsis amauroptera

Etymology: 

• Pelargopsis: Greek word pelargos – stork; opsis –appearance
• Amauroptera : Greek word amauros brown, dusky; –pteros -winged

Vernacular Names : Ben: Gurial

Distribution in India: Resident in East India.

Description : Size  of 35–37 cm; wt. of male 162 g. It is a large coastal kingfisher with large red bill. Both sexes have pale orange head and underparts, dark brown back, wings and tail, brilliant blue rump. The bill is scarlet with dusky tip; iris is dark brown, orbital skin is red. The legs and feet are scarlet with black nails. The juvenile has scalloped pattern on wing-coverts and breast and red bill with brownish tip.

Habitat: It is found in  mangroves, tidal forest, mudflats, estuaries and brackish creeks, and moves out on to quiet rocky shores. It  appears to prefer old-growth mangroves.

Food habits: It eats Crabs and fish. Prey are detected from perches in mangroves. It catches crabs by flying down low to land on the mud and rapidly seize one; dives into the water for fish; large prey are carried back to a perch in the bill, struck against the perch, and then repositioned before being swallowed. It dives into surf for prey, settling on sand to secure the item while waves brake over it.

Breeding habits: They breed in   Mar–Apr in India. They nest in burrow dug into a mud bank or cliff by a creek. They lay a clutch of 3–4 eggs.