Kingfishers

By comparison there are only 1 species in UK. This is very good indication of the great diversity of fauna a rainforest can keep. Here at the Datai area you we have 5 and you are likely to see at the mangroves the little creeks and around the golf course.There are 8 species of kingfishers on Langkawi and they are certainly the most colorful birds on the island. By comparison there are only 1 species in UK. This is very good indication of the great diversity of fauna a rainforest can keep. Here at the Datai area you we have 5 and you are likely to see at the mangroves the little creeks and around the golf course.

Brown Winged Kingfisher

Langkawi is the only place in the country that you can find this species of Kingfisher. Langkawi is the very southern limits of a species that is found between the Sundabans of Bengal and southern Thailand and for some reason not found yet on mainland Malaysia.

It is the largest Kingfisher on Langkawi and measures about 36cm from tip of beak to tip of tail. It has dark brown wings and tail a light brown head, breast and underbelly, a reddish orange beak and feet and when it flies its blue rump is clearly seen.It is usually seen around the mangrove river at the left end of the Datai bay. Listen for a loud, tremulous, desending “tree treew-treew” and a loud deep “cha –cha-cha-cha”. It feed on little fish and crabs. Male and female are the same color.

The Banded Kingfisher

This is the most beautiful KF found in Datai, the male like the female is banded only the bands are blue and black. It is also the most elusive KF because it prefers to sit in thick foliage over the creek well hidden from view. It is mostly heard with a long whistle followed with about 14or 15 slow double whistle; weeeoo chi-wiu chi-wiu chi-wiu that gradually dies down. It is rarely seen at the mangroves.

White Collared Kingfisher

This is the most often seen Kingfisher found in langkawi beach and shore and also can be found at the mangroves area. White collared-kingfisher diet consist of wide variety of prey from fish, crabs and prawns, to lizards, small snakes, insects, tadpoles and earthworms. Those hunting along mangrove area and coastline eat mainly small crabs and crustacea, and some fish, mostly mudskippers.

White Throated Kingfisher

This kingfisher is usually found in paddy field and wetland area, perched on bare branches of the trees along the fairways. It feeds on frogs and small lizards. It gives a loud whinnying klililililili shrill. When the sun hits this KF a wonderful electric blue of its wings can be enjoyed.