Half-collared kingfisher, half-necklace kingfisher, Alcedo semitorquata, Half-collared kingfisher

Appearance

The Half-collared Kingfisher is 18cm long and weighs 35-40g. Adults have many distinctive features: black lores with a white or pale yellow stripe above them; a semi-circle of cream-colored markings on the side of the neck, resembling a half-collar. The crown has fine black and bright cobalt blue stripes, the forehead has grey and green markings, and the neck is bright blue. The nape, back, and tail have brilliant cobalt blue hues, with a purplish sheen at the tail tip. The wings are deep blue, and the shoulder blades are blue-green. The chin is yellow, and the throat is white. The rest of the underparts are ochre. Large dark blue spots adorn both sides of the breast. The bill is black, the iris is dark brown, and the legs are red. Females are very similar to males, except they lack the small red spot below the mandible found in males. Juveniles have darker plumage than adults. The breast feathers have dark stripes, and subadult legs are dark red.
The beak is thick, straight, long, and strong, with a rounded ridge; the nasal groove is indistinct; the wingtips are long, with the first primary flight feather slightly shorter and the third and fourth longest; the tail is short and rounded; the body plumage is bright and glossy, often with blue or green hues. The head is large, the neck short, the wings short and rounded, and the tail mostly short as well; the beak is large and pointed with a blunt culmen; the legs are very short, the toes slender and weak, the fourth toe mostly fused with the third, and only fused with the second toe at the base. The preen gland is covered with (unidentified feathers). Coracoid bones are present on both sides, and there are four notches on the posterior margin of the sternum; the manubrium of the sternum is simply formed by external spines.