The white-throated kingfisher

A white-throated kingfisher is perched on a branch at the Shenzhen Bay in Nanshan District. 

The White-throated Kingfisher

Everything about the white-throated kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), also commonly known as the white-breasted kingfisher, is beautiful. Although light brown is the dominant color, their fantastic coloration patternmakes the species one of the most astonishing birds you can see in Shenzhen. 

白胸翡翠是一种非常美丽的翠鸟。虽然不像普通翠鸟，它们身上的羽毛以棕色为主，但仍然是深圳最漂亮的鸟类之一。

A white-throated kingfisher is perched on a branch in the Dashahe area in Nanshan District. 

The entire head and part of its body are covered by light brown feathers, exceptfor the breast that is covered by beautiful white feathers,hence the name. Their large broad beak is reddish.Their wings are covered by acombination of brown, blue, white and black feathers,in a beautiful linear pattern; the dominant color is alight blue, with a distinctive white patch at the most distal part of the wings and also black tips. Their back and tail are also covered by strikingly bright blue feathers and their legs are short and red. 

白胸翡翠的头颈部为棕红色，胸、喉部为白色，因此得名；喙粗长，呈珊瑚色；翅膀上，棕、蓝、黑、白四色羽毛形成美丽色带，其中蓝色羽毛最多；双翼近末端缀有白斑，尖端沾少许黑色；背部及尾部覆羽皆为亮蓝色，红色的脚短粗。 

A white-throated kingfisher is perched on a wood post at the Shenzhen Bay in Nanshan District. 

White-throated kingfishers are relatively large animals, measuring up to 28centimeters,with an approximately 44-cm wingspan. Like other kingfishers, their beak is very big, heavy and broad, with a pointy end that allows them to get their prey bydiving straight to them. Their diet includes crustaceans, fish, reptiles, amphibians and even insects, and it is very common to see them in the Shenzhen Bay area feeding on crabs. 

白胸翡翠体型较大，身长可达28厘米，翼展约44厘米。作为翠鸟家族的一员，它们的喙粗壮有力，尖端似矛，能够在俯冲时直接攫取猎物。它们以甲壳类、鱼类、爬行类、两栖类及昆虫为食。在深圳湾，我们可以经常看到它们抓螃蟹吃。 

A white-throated kingfisher is perched on a branch at the Shenzhen Bay in Nanshan District.

Their nests are tunnels made in the ground where they lay up to six eggs. Little chicks will emerge from the eggs afterabout three weeks, ready for their first flight after another three weeks. Their population is stable,as they seldom have predators due to their rapid flight.However, protecting their habitats is a must, so we can keep enjoying their presence in our city for many years to come. 

白胸翡翠掘地筑巢，每窝产6只卵，孵化期约三周，再过三周，雏鸟就能够出巢学飞了。它们的飞行能力很强，因此鲜有天敌，数量较为稳定。但我们仍要保护它们的栖息地，才能让它们继续在深圳与我们作伴。

A white-throated kingfisher is perched on a rock at the Shenzhen Bay in Nanshan District.