This is a Woodland kingfisher, one of the non-piscivorous kingfishers ('forest kingfishers'). It is about 23 cm long and has been noted for its striking colours. The picture shows that it has a bright blue back, wing panels and tail, contrasting with a white head, neck and underside. It has distinctive black shoulder patches and a dark line or field through the eye. The bill is stout with a bright red upper mandible and a black lower mandible. It feeds on insects of various kinds, grasshoppers, beetles and cicadas. It also hunts small vertebrates such as frogs, lizards, snakes and sometimes small birds. It hunts from a relatively low perch, swooping down to catch prey on the ground. During territorial displays and mating ceremonies, it sits upright and spreads its wings to display its black and white wing pattern. It prefers woodlands, savannas and riverine forests. Unlike many kingfishers, it is often found far from water. The species usually nests in tree cavities, often those abandoned by woodpeckers or barbets. A typical clutch consists of 2–4 eggs, which are incubated by both parents for about 13–14 days.