The white-throated kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), also known as the white-breasted kingfisher, is a large, vibrant bird widely distributed across the Indian Subcontinent. It is instantly recognizable by its neon-blue wings and back, chocolate-brown head and flanks, and its namesake brilliant white throat and breast. Unlike most kingfishers, it can often be found well away from water where it feeds on a wide range of prey that includes small reptiles, amphibians, crabs, small rodents and even birds. It kills its prey by beating it against a branch before swallowing it whole.