Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx erithacus) is a tiny (13 cm) beautiful, seldom seen, forest kingfisher. The bird is primarily violet and orange with a long waxy-red bill and a short tail. Head, tail and underparts are orange-chestnut while the wings are black or purple. The crown, back and rump are violet, whereas the feet are red. There are blue and white spots on cheeks. The bird is shy, solitary and often overlooked.

It is a scarce breeding resident in the north-east (Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh) and the west coast of India.