Javan kingfisher (Halcyon cyanoventris)

Javan kingfisher (Halcyon cyanoventris) is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae. It is a medium-sized bird, reaching 25–27 cm in length as an adult, and possesses a large, red bill. The iris, head, throat, and collar are dark brown, while the body is purple. The primary wing coverts, secondary feathers, and tail are a striking greenish-blue. A white patch is visible at the base of the primary wing feathers (seen during flight). The legs are dark red.

There is no significant difference in appearance between male and female H. cyanoventris. Juveniles have duller coloration, a brownish-orange bill, and a whitish throat. Adults often display fine streaks or mottling, which can give their plumage a more uniform appearance.



Females lay 3–5 eggs per clutch. The eggs are nearly perfectly spherical, measuring approximately 30.35 x 26.71 mm on average, and are pure white.

The bird’s call—a repetitive "cekakakak… cekakakak… cekakakak"—is the origin of its local name, "Cekakak." This piercing, repetitive call can be heard from a great distance.

This species is endemic to the islands of Java and Bali, Indonesia. It is non-migratory and inhabits grasslands, fish ponds, rice paddies, marshes, coastal scrub, mangroves, open dry forests, urban parks, gardens, and plantations. The bird generally avoids direct contact with seawater and dense, closed-canopy tropical rainforests.

These kingfishers require open areas for hunting. Urban and suburban environments with sufficient tree cover can also serve as suitable habitats. This bird is generally found at elevations below 1,500 meters, though one study recorded it at an altitude of 2,500 meters on Mount Lawu, Central Java.

The species is highly territorial and tends to remain near its nesting area; it is solitary, extremely wary, and fearful of humans. Rather than staying deep within the dense forest, it waits for prey from isolated perches or exposed branches along the forest edge. Because its eye movement is limited, the bird uses head movements to track potential prey.

Once prey is spotted, the bird waits for the perfect moment to strike and capture it with its large beak. Upon returning to its perch, it may forcefully swing the prey against a branch to kill or soften it. The parent bird adjusts the type of prey based on the age of its chicks; newly hatched chicks are fed soft food such as worms and insect larvae, while their diet gradually shifts to include small fish, reptiles, and large insects as they grow.

H. cyanoventris nests in a cavity at the end of a horizontal tunnel excavated into an earthen bank or riverbank—often in an open, sun-exposed location. The tunnel entrance is typically 1.5 to 3 meters above the ground, and the tunnel itself ranges from 40 to 100 centimeters in length.

The duration of a single generation is estimated at 3.8 years, and the bird may lay eggs up to four times in a single breeding season. Upon hatching, the chicks are blind and featherless; however, they grow rapidly and are capable of flying and leaving the nest in less than a month.

TAXON

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Subfamily: Halcyoninae
Genus: Halcyon Linnaeus (1766)
Species: Halcyon cyanoventris Vieillot (1818)

VERNACULAR NAME

Arabic: رفراف جاوي
Czech: Ledňáček jávský
Dutch: Javaanse IJsvogel
English: Javan Kingfisher, Blue-bellied kingfisher
Finnish: Jaavankalastaja
French: Martin-chasseur de Java
German: Javaliest, Blaubauchliest
Hungarian: Jávai halkapó
Indonesian: Cekakak Jawa, Tengkek
Italian: Martin pescatore di Giava, Martin pescatore ventre blu
Japanese: ジャワショウビン
Java: Tengkek
Lithuanian: Javinis halcionas
Norwegian: Javaisfugl
Polish: Łowiec brązowoszyi
Russian: Яванская альциона - Яванский зимородок
Slovak: Rybárikovec fialový
Spanish: Alción de Java

Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dlium