• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species is categorised as Near Threatened because it is restricted to forest in the Greater Sundas, a region where deforestation is occurring at a moderately rapid rate. Population declines are suspected to be ongoing at a broadly similar rate to that of forest loss.

Population justification
The population size of this species has not been quantified. However, it is typically described as common or uncommon (Wells 1999, Mann 2008, Eaton et al. 2016) and based on the amount of forest left in its range, it is not considered likely to meet or approach the threshold for assessment as Threatened (<10,000 mature individuals).

Trend justification
The species is suspected to be declining because of forest loss throughout its range. Over the past ten years, forest loss in this species' range has been equivalent to 20–23% (Global Forest Watch 2022, using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). Because this rate was similar between 2016 and 2020, with little indication this will slow in the future, the same rate is projected over the next ten years. This species appears to be highly forest dependent, being absent from areas burned (Slik and van Balen 2006) and recently logged forests (Fisher et al. 2011). Consequently, the rate of population reduction is suspected to be similar to that of forest loss, and may be compounded by habitat fragmentation and riverine pollution (although the latter remains an unconfirmed threat).

Alcedo peninsulae ranges from southern Myanmar (Tenasserim), through peninsular Thailand to Malaysia (including Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo), Brunei, Kalimantan, and Sumatra, Indonesia (BirdLife International 2001). It is generally thinly distributed, being locally fairly common in Peninsular Malaysia and on Borneo, rare in Myanmar, and uncommon in Thailand and Sumatra. It may be under-recorded owing to its shy behaviour and often remote habitat (B. van Balen in litt. 2012).

It is generally sedentary on rocky or slow-flowing streams and larger rivers running through forest (usually humid evergreen, but also back-mangroves and mixed dipterocarp-dominated forest) and has been found up to 100 m from riversides in forest (Fry and Fry 1999). It is most commonly encountered in the lowlands, but ascends locally to 850 m in peninsular Malaysia and to at least 1,500 m in Borneo (Mann 2008, Eaton et al. 2016). It is predominantly piscivorous, also consuming crustaceans, insects and small reptiles (Fry and Fry 1999, del Hoyo et al. 2001). Breeding has been recorded between January-March and June (del Hoyo et al. 2001).

Rates of forest loss in the Sundaic lowlands have been extremely rapid, owing partly to the escalation of illegal logging and land conversion, with deliberate targeting of all remaining stands of valuable timber including those inside protected areas (Hansen et al. 2013, Global Forest Watch 2022) to make way for oil palm plantations and, in some cases, urban development. The species appears intolerant of recently logged forests (Bing et al. 2013) although can recolonise forests logged more than 30 years previously (Rajpar and Zakaria 2014). Forest fires also impact this species; in east Borneo, birds occupied plots that had never been burned but was absent from those burned even once or twice (Slik and van Balen 2006).

Conservation Actions Underway
In Malaysia, it is classified as Totally Protected (Schedule 2) by the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010; in Indonesia, it is protected under No. 5/1990 and Government Regulations No.7/1999; in Thailand, it is under Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act, B.E. 2535. It occurs in numerous protected areas throughout its range (eBird 2022). 

Conservation Actions Proposed
Address the species as a key target during surveys, and research its range and ecological requirements, perhaps targeting the species through mist-netting above forest streams (B. van Balen in litt. 2012). Formulate a management strategy for this species and a suite of other Sundaic birds largely reliant on lowland forest. Lobby for effective management of existing protected areas in the Sundaic region and for the expansion of the protected area network.

20 cm. Medium-sized river kingfisher. Has dark blackish upperparts with silvery-azure streak from mantle to rump. Long, white neck-flash with rufous tip. White throat, rest of underparts in male whitish with bold blue band across chest. Female with rich orange underparts, lacking breast-band. Similar spp. A. euryzona has a solid blue breast band in both sexesCommon Kingfisher A. atthis smaller, greenish-blue above, lacking breast-band. Voice High-pitched squeaks in flight, harsher than A. atthis.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Aik, Y.C., Benstead, P., Bird, J., Cox, B., Davison, G., Martin, R., Ong, T.P., Symes, A., Taylor, J., Tobias, J. & van Balen, B.S.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Malay Blue-banded Kingfisher Alcedo peninsulae. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/malay-blue-banded-kingfisher-alcedo-peninsulae on 22/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/12/2024.