Banded Kingfisher

Lacedo pulchella

Another really beautiful forest Kingfisher that is difficult to see. It perches high and is usually seen, if at all, in pairs. I have not seen the female, but this male was spotted on this high perch and obliged by staying for about 40 minutes, which is very unusual. It has a unique behaviour of raising and closing its crest constantly, as seen in the first two images. I count myself really lucky this day to have been able to photograph this jaw-dropping beauty.