The unique features of the stork-billed kingfisher are its comparatively large sized head and bill. It has an overall blue and dull yellow colour, while the bill is red.
This bird lives primarily depending on trees. They are found in lakes, rivers and forest streams, coasts and mangroves, where there are lot of trees. They may stay concealed within the leaf cover of trees for long time periods.
Like other kingfishers, the stork-billed kingfishers also hunt from water, usually targeting fishes, reptiles and shelled creatures. They may also feed on rodents and small birds.
The adult birds build their nests in riverbanks, trees or termite nests. Eggs are white and may be two to five in number. These birds have a strong sense of their own territories, where they don’t like other birds intruding into. In that case, they may chase away even eagles and other large predators.
Except in the Northeast, these birds are somewhat common in most parts of India. They are also found in Southeast Asia, especially Pakistan and Indonesia.