Adult Plumage:
The chin, throat, breast, anterior belly, and wing edges are white. The head, flanks, lesser wing coverts, sides of the breast, flanks, belly, and undertail coverts are brownish-tawny, with the wing coverts, belly, and undertail coverts being paler. The median wing coverts are black. The shoulders, secondary flight feathers, and primary wing coverts are greenish-blue.
The primary flight feathers have pale black tips, the outer vanes of the basal part are sky-blue, while the inner vanes of this part are white, forming a broad stripe on the wing. The back and flanks are pale, bright blue. The tail is blue on the upper surface and black on the underside.
Juvenile Plumage:
Similar to the adult, but generally paler. Eyes are brown. The bill is red; juvenile bills are brown. Feet are bright red.
Measurements:
Wing: 143 – 131 mm; Tail: 78 – 93 mm; Tarsus: 14 – 15 mm; Bill: 55 – 63 mm.
Distribution:
The Brown-headed Kingfisher is distributed in India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and South China.
In Vietnam, this species is found throughout the regions, from the plains to the mountains at elevations not exceeding 1,000 meters.