General
The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections welcome. Malaysian names are now being updated. For consistency, Vietnamese bird names (except for ducks and chickens) are preceded by the word Chim meaning 'bird'. Ornithological lists mostly omit this as understood. Hover over Green Lettering to see additional information.
Vietnamese has a variety of names for kingfishers. It is unclear how differentiated these names were in their "natural state", but ornithologists now draw nomenclatural distinctions between halcyonids, alcedinids, and cerylids.
The name Chim sả appears to particularly apply to the halcyon kingfishers. It occurs in a number of variants -- Chim sả sả ~ Chim sa sả ~ Chim trả -- and to add to the variety, the spellings xả and chả are sometimes used in place of sả and trả respectively. Some of these names are regional (e.g., Chim sa sả is used in Central and Southern Vietnam). The term màu cánh trả 'kingfisher-wing colour' in Vietnamese refers to the colour emerald or emerald green.
Chim bồng chanh is used for the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), noted for its iridescent blue feathers.
Chim bói cá is another name for the kingfishers. It possibly means 'fish-divining bird', suggesting an uncanny ability to divine where fish are. The dictionary definition appears to fit the Common Kingfisher: 'Bird living near the water, blue feathers, brown breast, long bill, dives into the water to catch fish'. Chim bói cá sông 'river bói cá bird' is another name for the Common Kingfisher.
Chim thằng chài, possibly 'fisher-boy bird', is synonymous with Chim sả and Chim trả.
Chim đồng cốt is an intriguing name used in northern dialects, literally meaning 'witchcraft bird' or 'medium bird'.
Vietnamese also has the Chinese loan words Thúy điểu (from 翠鳥 ), Chim thuý (also from 翠鳥 , where the element thuý is from Chinese), and Chim phí thuý (from 翡翠 ). In Chinese these refer to halcyon and alcedinid kingfishers.
Ornithological naming
From the above variety of names, the following have been applied by naturalists to the ornithological naming:
| Vietnamese names | Genera |
| Sả | Halcyon kingfishers (Lacedo, Pelargopsis, Halcyon, Todiramphus) |
| Bồng chanh | Alcedinid kingfishers (Ceyx, Alcedo) |
| Bói cá | Cerylid kingfishers (Megaceryle, Ceryle) |
However, TVC (34) uses the name Bói cá for Pelargopsis capensis and Todirhamphus chloris in preference to Sả.
Chữ Nôm
Characters used for alcedinids in the now obsolete Chữ Nôm characters include:
| Name | Chữ Nôm Images from the Vietnamese Nôm Preservation Foundation dictionary. (Errors are the sole responsibility of the author of this site) |
| Sả |  or  |
| Trả |  ,  ,  |
| Bói cá |   |
Species names
| ALCEDININAE | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
VIETNAMESE |
EAST ASIAN |
S. E. ASIAN |
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| Ceyx | |||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
|
| Ceyx erithaca Ceyx erithacus  |
East Asian dwarf kingfisher Three-toed kingfisher Martin-pêcheur pourpré |
Ceyx erithacus: Chim Bồng chanh đỏ 'red bồng chanh bird' (12, 34) |
三趾翠鸟 (三趾翠鳥) 'three-toed kingfisher-bird' Taiwan: (三趾翠鸟) 三趾翠鳥 'three-toed kingfisher-bird' |
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 kingfisher1' |
นกกะเต็นน้อยสามนิ้วหลังดำ nók kà-ten nóaay săam-níw lăŋ-dam 'black-backed three-toed little kingfisher (bird)' |
Burung Pekaka Api 'fire kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (26) Burung Pekaka Rimba 'jungle kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (24) (Conflicts with Lacedo pulchella and Actenoides concretus) Burung Pekaka Sepah 'scarlet kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (25) |
Burung Udang Api 'fire shrimp-bird' |
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| Alcedo | |||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
|
| Alcedo meninting |
Blue-eared kingfisher Martin-pêcheur méninting |
Chim Bồng chanh tai xanh 'blue/green-eared bồng chanh bird' (12, 34) |
蓝耳翠鸟 (藍耳翠鳥) 'blue-eared kingfisher-bird' |
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 kingfisher1' |
นกกะเต็นน้อยหลังสีน้ำเงิน nók kà-ten nóaay lăŋ-sĭi-nám-ŋoen 'blue-backed little kingfisher (bird)' |
Burung Pekaka Bintik-bintik 'freckled kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (24, 25) Burung Binti-Binti 'freckled bird' (26) |
Burung Raja-udang Meninting 'forktail shrimp-king-bird' |
||
| Alcedo hercules |
Blyth's kingfisher Martin-pêcheur de Blyth |
Chim Bồng chanh rừng 'forest bồng chanh bird' (12, 13, 34) |
斑头大翠鸟 (斑頭大翠鳥) 'stripe-headed large kingfisher-bird' |
オオカワセミ (大翡翠 ~ 大川蝉 ~ 大魚狗) ō kawa-semi 'large river kingfisher1' |
นกกะเต็นเฮอคิวลิส nók kà-ten hoee-kʰiw-lít 'Hercules kingfisher (bird)' (hoee-kʰiw-lít from English 'Hercules') |
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| Alcedo atthis |
Common kingfisher River kingfisher Martin-pêcheur d'Europe |
Chim Bồng chanh 'bồng chanh bird' (12, 13, 34) |
Chim Chinh chinh 'chinh chinh bird' (34) Chim bói cá sông 'river bói cá bird' (cá = 'fish') |
普通翠鸟 (普通翠鳥) 'common kingfisher-bird' Taiwan: (翠鸟) 翠鳥 'kingfisher-bird' |
カワセミ (翡翠 ~ 川蝉 ~ 魚狗) kawa-semi 'river kingfisher1' |
นกกะเต็นน้อยธรรมดา nók kà-ten nóaay tʰam-ma-daa 'common little kingfisher (bird)' |
Burung Raja Udang 'shrimp-king bird' (26) Burung Pekaka Cit-cit Kecil 'small cit-cit kingfisher (bird)' (onomat., cit-cit is from species call) (24) Burung Pekaka Cit-cit 'cit-cit kingfisher (bird)' (onomat., cit-cit is from species call) (25) |
Burung Raja-udang Erasia 'Eurasian shrimp-king-bird' |
|
| CERYLINAE | |||||||||
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
VIETNAMESE |
EAST ASIAN |
S. E. ASIAN |
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| Megaceryle | |||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
|
| Megaceryle lugubris Ceryle lugubris |
Crested kingfisher Greater pied kingfisher Crested pied kingfisher Pied kingfisher Martin-pêcheur tacheté |
Chim Bói cá lớn 'large bói cá bird' (cá = 'fish') (12, 13, 34) |
Chim Bói cá mào 'crested bói cá bird' (cá = 'fish') (alt in 34) |
冠鱼狗 (冠魚狗) 'crested fish-dog' |
ヤマセミ (山翡翠 ~ 山魚狗) yama-semi 'mountain kingfisher1' |
นกกะเต็นขาวดำใหญ่ nók kà-ten kʰăaw-dam yày 'large black (&) white kingfisher (bird)' |
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| Ceryle | |||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
|
| Ceryle rudis |
Pied kingfisher Lesser pied kingfisher Alcyon pie |
Chim Bói cá nhỏ 'small bói cá bird' (cá = 'fish') (12, 13, 34) |
斑鱼狗 (斑魚狗) 'striped fish-dog' Taiwan: (斑翡翠) 斑翡翠 'striped kingfisher' |
ヒメヤマセミ (姫山翡翠 ~ 姫山魚狗) hime yama-semi 'princess mountain kingfisher1' |
นกกะเต็นปักหลัก nók kà-ten pàk-làk 'hoverer-kingfisher (bird)' |
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| HALCYONINAE | |||||||||
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
VIETNAMESE |
EAST ASIAN |
S. E. ASIAN |
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| Lacedo | |||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
|
| Lacedo pulchella |
Banded kingfisher Martin-chasseur mignon |
Chim Sả vằn 'striped halcyon bird' (12, 34) |
横斑翠鸟 (橫斑翠鳥) 'horizontal-striped kingfisher-bird' (4) 斑翠鸟 (斑翠鳥) 'striped kingfisher-bird' (5) |
カザリショウビン (飾り翡翠) kazari shōbin 'decorative kingfisher2' |
นกกะเต็นลาย nók kà-ten laay 'striped kingfisher (bird)' |
Burung Pekaka Rimba 'jungle bright-kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (26) (Conflicts with Ceyx erithacus and Actenoides concretus) or Burung Kaing-Kaing Bukit 'hill kaing-kaing bird' (onomat., from species call) (alt in 26) Burung Pekaka Kaing-Kaing 'kaing-kaing kingfisher bird' (onomat., kaing-kaing from species call) (25) Burung Pekaka Riang Rimba 'jungle bright-kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (24) |
Burung Cekakak Batu 'rock kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) |
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| Pelargopsis | |||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
|
| Pelargopsis capensis Halcyon capensis |
Stork-billed kingfisher Martin-chasseur gurial |
Chim Sả mỏ rộng 'large-billed halcyon bird' (12, 13) |
Chim Bói cá mỏ cò 'stork-billed bói cá bird' (cá = 'fish') (34) |
鹳嘴翡翠 (鸛嘴翠鳥) 'stork-billed kingfisher' |
コウハシショウビン (鸛嘴翡翠) kō-hashi shōbin 'stork-billed kingfisher2' |
นกกะเต็นใหญ่ธรรมดา nók kà-ten yày tʰam-ma-daa 'common large kingfisher (bird)' นกกำกวม nók kam-kuam 'storkbilledkingfisher (bird)' |
Burung Pekaka Emas 'gold kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (26) or Burung Buaya 'crocodile bird' (alt in 26) (Conflicts with P. amauroptera) Burung Pekaka Buaya 'crocodile kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (25) Burung Pekaka Paruh Besar 'large-billed kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (24) |
Burung Pekaka Emas 'gold kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.)  Name |
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| Halcyon | |||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
|
| Halcyon coromanda |
Ruddy kingfisher Martin-chasseur violet |
Chim Sả hung 'reddish halcyon bird' (12, 13, 34) |
赤翡翠 (赤翡翠) 'red kingfisher' Taiwan: (赤翡翠) 赤翡翠 'red kingfisher' |
アカショウビン (赤翡翠) aka shōbin 'red kingfisher2' |
นกกะเต็นแดง nók kà-ten daeeŋ 'red kingfisher (bird)' |
Burung Pekaka Ungu 'purple kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (26) Burung Pekaka Belacan 'speckled kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (24, 25) |
Burung Cekakak Merah 'red kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) |
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| Halcyon smyrnensis |
White-throated kingfisher White-breasted kingfisher Smyrna Kingfisher Martin-chasseur de Smyrne |
Chim Sả đầu nâu 'brown-headed halcyon bird' (12, 13, 34) |
白胸翡翠 (白胸翡翠) 'white-breasted kingfisher' Taiwan: (苍翡翠) 蒼翡翠 'darkblue kingfisher' |
アオショウビン (青翡翠) ao shōbin 'blue/green kingfisher2' |
นกกะเต็นอกขาว nók kà-ten òk-kʰăaw 'white-breasted kingfisher (bird)' |
Burung Pekaka Dada Putih 'white-breasted kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (26) Burung Pekaka Belukar 'thicket kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (24) Burung Pekaka Dusun 'backwoods kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (25) |
Burung Cekakak Belukar 'thicket kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) |
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| Halcyon pileata |
Black-capped kingfisher Martin-chasseur à coiffe noire |
Chim Sả đầu đen 'black-headed halcyon bird' (12, 13, 34) |
蓝翡翠 (藍翡翠) 'blue kingfisher' Taiwan: (黑头翡翠) 黑頭翡翠 'black-headed kingfisher' |
ヤマショウビン (山翡翠) yama shōbin 'mountain kingfisher2' |
นกกะเต็นหัวดำ nók kà-ten hŭa-dam 'black-headed kingfisher (bird)' |
Burung Pekaka Kepala Hitam 'black-headed kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (26) Burung Pekaka Kopiah Hitam 'black-capped kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (24, 25) |
Burung Cekakak Cina 'Chinese kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) |
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| Todiramphus | |||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
|
| Todiramphus chloris Todirhamphus chloris Halcyon chloris |
Collared kingfisher White-collared kingfisher Martin-chasseur à collier blanc |
Halcyon chloris (12): Chim Sả khoang cổ 'streak-necked halcyon bird' (12, 13) |
Chim Bói cá khoang cổ 'streak-necked bói cá bird' (cá = 'fish') (34) |
白领翡翠 (白領翡翠) 'white-collared kingfisher' Taiwan: (白领翡翠) 白領翡翠 'white-collared kingfisher' |
ナンヨウショウビン (南洋翡翠) nan'yō shōbin 'south seas kingfisher2' |
นกกินเปี้ยว nók kin-pîaw 'fiddlercrab-eater (bird)' (18, 21) |
Burung Pekaka Bakau 'mangrove kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (26, 25) Burung Pekaka Sungai 'river kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) (24) |
Burung Cekakak Sungai 'river kingfisher (bird)' (onomat.) |
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Floating Menu by Milonic |
Tool tips by Walter Zorn |
