Kingfishers are divided into three groups and these are distinct enough for each to be considered a separate family. The three families are Alcedinidae, Cerylidae and Halcyonidae. But some authors put all Kingfishers in one family called Alcedinidae which is further divided into three subfamilies; Alcedininae, Cerylinae, and Halcyoninae. Recent molecular studies suggest that Halcyonines and Cerylines are more closely related and more evolved than the Alcedinine Kingfishers.

Alcedinidae family has two genera (Alcedo & Ceyx). These relatively small,  mainly piscivorous, Kingfishers are found in Asia and Africa, several of which have the second toe reduced or absent. Alcedo Kingfishers generally feed on fish, have blue upperparts, a blue breast band, and a black, laterally flattened bill. Several of Ceyx species have reddish upperparts and and feed mainly on small insects.

Common Kingfisher  (Alcedo atthis) - widespread resident
Blyth's Kingfisher  (Alcedo hercules) - local resident
Blue-eared Kingfisher  (Alcedo meninting) - widespread resident
Black-backed Kingfisher  (Ceyx erithacus) - widespread resident
Rufous-backed Kingfisher  (Ceyx rufidorsa) - vagrant