General
Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Pinyin readings reflect standard Mandarin usage; for some dialect alternative names it may be of little practical use, especially for South China. Many Korean glosses are highly tentative. Comments and corrections welcome.
There has traditionally been a variety of names for kingfishers, which appear to have been poorly differentiated. As naturalists have come to draw clear distinctions between subfamilies -- or in the case of Sibley and Monroe, families (Halcyonidae, Alcedinidae, and Cerylidae) -- distinctions have come to be drawn more clearly.
The usual name for kingfishers in general usage is 翠鸟 cuì-niǎo. Ornithologists restrict 翠鸟 cuì-niǎo 'cuì bird' to refer to the alcedin kingfishers. Alcedo atthis (the Common or River Kingfisher) is common in large parts of China; the other members are found only in peripheral areas.
Originally, the kingfishers were called 翡翠 fěicuì (sometimes seen in the form 翡翠鸟 fěicuì-niǎo). According to one of China's earliest dictionaries, the Shuowen jiezi from the Han dynasty (206 BC - AD 220), 翡翠 fěicuì is a combination of two words:
翡 fěi = 赤羽雀 chì-yǔ què 'red-winged sparrow', a type of red-winged bird.
翠 cuì = 青羽雀 qīng-yǔ què 'green/blue-winged sparrow' a type of blue or green-winged bird.
(Note that the term 雀 què, glossed here as 'sparrow', typically refers to small passerines like sparrows and finches, but in forming bird names can actually show a wider range of usage). Presumably 翡翠 fěicuì referred specifically to the halcyon kingfishers, which have the distinctive colours implied by the name. The word 翡翠 fěicuì was later extended to mean 'jadeite', the favourite precious stone of the Chinese, which comes in red and green colours. In fact, Chinese speakers now generally identify 翡翠 fěicuì with the precious stone rather than the bird. Ornithologists use 翡翠 fěicuì strictly for the halcyon kingfishers.
Some other names exist for the halcyon kingfishers, including 翠雀儿 cuì-qiǎor 'cui sparrow' and 赤羽雀 chì-yǔ què (literally 'red-winged sparrow').
The cerylid kingfishers use the more distinctive name 鱼狗 yú-gǒu 'fish-dog'. Other, older, names include 鴗 lì or 鴗鸟 lì-niǎo 'li bird' and 天狗 tiān-gǒu 'heaven dog'.
Species names
| HALCYONINAE |
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH |
CHINESE |
EAST |
SOUTH | NORTH |
| Pelargopsis |
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Latin |
English | Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Pelargopsis capensis
Halcyon capensis
 |
Stork-billed kingfisher |
鹳嘴翡翠
(鸛嘴翠鳥)
guàn-zuǐ fěicuì
'stork-billed fěicuì' |
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コウハシショウビン
(鸛嘴翡翠)
kō-hashi shōbin
'stork-billed shōbin' (shōbin written with the Chinese word 翡翠 'kingfisher') |
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Chim Sả mỏ rộng
'large-billed sả bird' |
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| Halcyon |
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Latin |
English | Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Halcyon coromanda
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Ruddy kingfisher |
赤翡翠
(赤翡翠)
chì fěicuì
'red fěicuì' |
(赤翡翠)
赤翡翠
chì fěicuì
'red fěicuì' |
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アカショウビン
(赤翡翠)
aka shōbin
'red shōbin' (shōbin written with the Chinese word 翡翠 'kingfisher') |
호반새
hoban-sae
'lakeside (?) bird' |
Chim Sả hung
'reddish sả bird' |
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Halcyon smyrnensis
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White-throated kingfisher
White-breasted kingfisher
| 白胸翡翠
(白胸翡翠)
bái-xiōng fěicuì
'white-breasted fěicuì' |
(苍翡翠)
蒼翡翠
cāng fěicuì
'blue fěicuì' |
鱼狗
(魚狗)
yú-gǒu
'fish-dog' (officially used for Cerylid kingfishers)
白胸鱼狗
(白胸魚狗)
bái-xiōng yú-gǒu
'white-breasted fish-dog' (FS)
鱼虎
(魚虎)
yú-hǔ
'fish tiger' (FS)
翠毛鸟
(翠毛鳥)
cuì-máo-niǎo
'kingfisher feather bird' (FS)
翠碧鸟
(翠碧鳥)
cuì-bì-niǎo
'kingfisher-blue-bird' (FS)
苍翡鸟
(蒼翡鳥)
cāng-fěi-niǎo
'fly-kingfisher-bird' (FS) |
アオショウビン
(青翡翠)
ao shōbin
'blue/green shōbin' (shōbin written with the Chinese word 翡翠 'kingfisher') |
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Chim Sả đầu nâu
'brown-headed sả bird' |
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Halcyon pileata
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Black-capped kingfisher |
蓝翡翠
(藍翡翠)
lán fěicuì
'blue fěicuì' |
(黑头翡翠)
黑頭翡翠
hēi-tóu fěicuì
'black-headed fěicuì' |
蓝翠鸟
(藍翠鳥)
lán cuì-niǎo
'blue kingfisher' (see Aledinid kingfishers)
蓝鱼狗
(藍魚狗)
lán yú-gǒu
'blue fish-dog' (FS)
蓝翠毛
(藍翠毛)
lán cuì-máo
'blue kingfisher feather' (FS)
喜鹊翠
(喜鵲翠)
xǐquè-cuì
'magpie kingfisher' (northern) (FS)
黑顶鱼狗
(黑頂魚狗)
hēi-dǐng yú-gǒu
'black-topped fish-dog' (FS)
黑帽鱼狗
(黑帽魚狗)
hēi-mào yú-gǒu
'black-capped fish-dog' (FS)
秦椒鸟
(秦椒鳥)
qín-jiāo-niǎo
'Qin pepper bird' (FS)
山鴗
(山鴗)
shān-lì
'mountain kingfisher'
山翊
(山翊)
shān-yì
'mountain kingfisher' (FS) |
ヤマショウビン
(山翡翠)
yama shōbin
'mountain shōbin' (shōbin written with the Chinese word 翡翠 'kingfisher') |
청호반새
cheong-hoban-sae
'blue lakeside-bird' |
Chim Sả đầu đen
'black-headed sả bird' |
Хармагнай халуу
khar-magnai khaluu
'black-foreheaded kingfisher' |
| Todiramphus |
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Latin |
English | Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Todiramphus chloris
Todirhamphus chloris
Halcyon chloris
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Collared kingfisher
White-collared kingfisher
| 白领翡翠
(白領翡翠)
bái-lǐng fěicuì
'white-collared fěicuì' |
(白领翡翠)
白領翡翠
bái-lǐng fěicuì
'white-collared fěicuì' |
白领翠鸟
(白領翠鳥)
bái-lǐng cuì-niǎo
'white-collared kingfisher bird' |
ナンヨウショウビン
(南洋翡翠)
nan'yō shōbin
'south seas shōbin' (shōbin written with the Chinese word 翡翠 'kingfisher') |
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Chim Sả khoang cổ
'streak-necked sả bird' |
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| ALCEDININAE |
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH |
CHINESE |
EAST |
SOUTH | NORTH |
| Ceyx |
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Latin |
English | Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Ceyx erithaca
Ceyx erithacus
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Oriental dwarf kingfisher
Three-toed kingfisher
| 三趾翠鸟
(三趾翠鳥)
sān-zhǐ cuì-niǎo
'three-toed kingfisher bird' |
(三趾翠鸟)
三趾翠鳥
sān-zhǐ cuì-niǎo
'three-toed kingfisher bird' |
小黄鱼狗
(小黃魚狗)
xiǎo huáng yú-gǒu
'small yellow fish-dog' (FS) |
ミツユビカワセミ
(三つ趾翡翠 ~ 三つ趾川蝉 ~ 三つ趾魚狗)
mitsu-yubi kawa-semi
'three-toed river kingfisher' (kawa-semi written with 1. the characters 翡翠 hisui 'kingfisher', 2. 'river cicada', or 3. 魚狗 'fish-dog', from Chinese) |
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Chim Bồng chanh đỏ
'red bồng chanh bird' |
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| Alcedo |
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Latin |
English | Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Alcedo meninting
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Blue-eared kingfisher |
蓝耳翠鸟
(藍耳翠鳥)
lán-ěr cuì-niǎo
'blue-eared kingfisher bird' |
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ルリカワセミ
(瑠璃翡翠 ~ 瑠璃川蝉 ~ 瑠璃魚狗 ~ 琉璃翡翠 ~ 琉璃川蝉 ~ 琉璃魚狗)
ruri kawa-semi
'lapis lazuli river kingfisher' (ruri written 瑠璃 or 琉璃; kawa-semi written with 1. the characters 翡翠 hisui 'kingfisher', 2. 'river cicada', or 3. 魚狗 'fish-dog', from Chinese) |
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Chim Bồng chanh tai xanh
'blue/green-eared bồng chanh bird' |
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Alcedo atthis
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Common kingfisher
River kingfisher |
普通翠鸟
(普通翠鳥)
pǔtōng cuì-niǎo
'common kingfisher bird'
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(翠鸟)
翠鳥
cuì-niǎo
'kingfisher bird' |
翡翠
(翡翠)
fěicuì
'fěicuì'
小翠鱼狗
(小翠魚狗)
xiǎo cuì yú-gǒu
'small kingfisher fish-dog' (FS)
小翠鸟
(小翠鳥)
xiǎo cuì-niǎo
'small kingfisher bird'
翠鸟
(翠鳥)
cuì-niǎo
'kingfisher bird' (FS)
鱼狗
(魚狗)
yú-gǒu
'fish-dog' (FS)
小鱼狗
(小魚狗)
xiǎo yú-gǒu
'small fish-dog'
天狗
(天狗)
tiān-gǒu
'heaven dog' (FS)
水狗
(水狗)
shuǐ-gǒu
'water dog' (FS)
水雀
(水雀)
shuǐ-qiǎo
'water sparrow' (FS)
翠雀儿
(翠雀兒)
cuì-qiǎor
'kingfisher sparrow' (northern) (FS)
钓鱼郎
(釣魚郎)
diào-yú-láng
'fisherman' (FS)
打鱼郎
(打魚郎)
dǎ-yú-láng
'fisherman' (FS)
金鸟仔
(金鳥仔)
jīn niǎo zǎi
'golden bird' (southern) (FS)
鱼虎
(魚虎)
yú-hǔ
'fish tiger' (Materia Medica) (FS)
翊
(翊)
yì
'kingfisher' (literary) (FS)
鴗
(鴗)
lì
'kingfisher' (old)
翠碧鸟
(翠碧鳥)
cuìbì-niǎo
'kingfisher blue bird'
鱼师
(魚師)
yú-shī
'fisher'
翠奴
(翠奴)
cuì-nǔ
'kingfisher fellow'
信天缘
(信天緣)
xìn-tiān-yuán
'believe heaven fate' (also used for albatross)
青翰
(青翰)
qīng-hàn
'green/blue feathers'
青庄
(青庄)
qīng-zhuāng
'green fields'
青羽雀
(青羽雀)
qīng yǔ què
'green/blue-feathered sparrow'
衔鱼翠鸟
(銜魚翠鳥)
xián-yú cuì-niǎo
'hold fish kingfisher bird' |
カワセミ
(翡翠 ~ 川蝉 ~ 魚狗)
kawa-semi
'river kingfisher' (written with 1. the characters 翡翠 hisui 'kingfisher', 2. 'river cicada', or 3. 魚狗 'fish-dog', from Chinese) |
물총새
mul-chong-sae
'water chong bird' |
Chim Bồng chanh
'bồng chanh bird' |
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Alcedo hercules
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Blyth's kingfisher |
斑头大翠鸟
(斑頭大翠鳥)
bān-tóu dà cuì-niǎo
'stripe-headed large kingfisher bird' |
|
斑头大鱼狗
(斑頭大魚狗)
bān-tóu dà yú-gǒu
'stripe-headed large fish-dog' |
オオカワセミ
(大翡翠 ~ 大川蝉 ~ 大魚狗)
ō kawa-semi
'large river kingfisher' (kawa-semi written with 1. the characters 翡翠 hisui 'kingfisher', 2. 'river cicada', or 3. 魚狗 'fish-dog', from Chinese) |
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Chim Bồng chanh rừng
'forest bồng chanh bird' |
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| CERYLINAE |
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH |
CHINESE |
EAST |
SOUTH | NORTH |
| Megaceryle |
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Latin |
English | Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Megaceryle lugubris
Ceryle lugubris
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Crested kingfisher
Greater pied kingfisher
Crested pied kingfisher
Pied kingfisher |
冠鱼狗
(冠魚狗)
guān yú-gǒu
'crested fish-dog'
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水葱花
(水葱花)
shuǐ cōng-huā
'water shallot-flower'
大啄鱼
(大啄魚)
dà zhuó-yú
'large peck-fish' (FS)
斑鴗
bān lì
'striped kingfisher'
花鱼狗
(花鱼狗)
huā yú-gǒu
'flowery fish-dog' (FS)
花钓鱼郎
(花釣魚郎)
huā diào-yú-láng
'flowery fisherman' (FS) |
ヤマセミ
(山翡翠 ~ 山魚狗)
yama-semi
'mountain kingfisher' (written 1. 山 'mountain' + 翡翠 'kingfisher', from Chinese, or 2. 山 'mountain' + 魚狗 'fish-dog' from Chinese) |
뿔호반새
ppul-hoban-sae
'horned lakeside bird' |
Chim Bói cá lớn
'large boi ca' |
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| Ceryle |
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Latin |
English | Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Ceryle rudis
|
Pied kingfisher
Lesser pied kingfisher
| 斑鱼狗
(斑魚狗)
bān yú-gǒu
'striped fish-dog'
|
(斑翡翠)
斑翡翠
bān fěicuì
'striped fěicuì' |
小啄鱼
(小啄魚)
xiǎo zhuó-yú
'small peck-fish' (FS)
小花鱼狗
(小花魚狗)
xiǎo huā yú-gǒu
'small flowery fish-dog'
花斑钓鱼郎
(花斑釣魚郎)
huā bān diào-yú-láng
'flowery striped fisherman' (FS) |
ヒメヤマセミ
(姫山翡翠 ~ 姫山魚狗)
hime yama-semi
'princess mountain kingfisher' (yama-semi written 1. 山 'mountain' + 翡翠 'kingfisher', from Chinese, or 2. 山 'mountain' + 魚狗 'fish-dog' from Chinese) |
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Chim Bói cá nhỏ
'small boi ca' |
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