A medium-sized kingfisher. Male of the Tahiti form is dark green above and white below with a paler aquamarine eyebrow. Male of the Moorea form is light tawny-brown above and whitish below with a pale collar. Female has a dark brownish chest band and is overall browner than male. Found in forested habitats up to 300 meters of elevation on Moorea and 1700 meters of elevation on Tahiti. Overlaps with Chattering Kingfisher, but lacks the white eyebrow of that species and is overall less pale and darker green. Typical rattling “ki-ki-ki-ki-ki” is commonly heard.