A medium kingfisher; sexes are alike in appearance. Head and neck: Head and nape dark brown; eye brown; bill large, red; throat white.
Body: Back, rump, and greater wing coverts turquoise blue; lesser wing coverts dark brown; median wing coverts dark blue to black; breast white; abdomen and undertail coverts dark brown.
Limbs and tail: Legs and feet orange red; tail turquoise blue.