The White-throated Kingfisher is a very common and widespread breeding resident in our area. One of the reasons for its success is that it is by no means restricted to water, although every wetland down to the smallest village pond will probably be inhabited by a pair. It can also be found in open woodland, parks and gardens, along roads and in agricultural land. It perches on the bare branches of trees, posts and especially telegraph wires so it is one of the most familiar birds to observant drivers. It is relatively approachable on foot and quite tolerant of human activity.

It feeds mainly by pouncing on large insects, small reptiles and rodents on the ground. It sometimes takes small birds, particularly young fledglings. It will also take fish by diving from a perch but strangely this is rarely observed. When perched, the White-throated Kingfisher will often bob its head up and down as it searches for prey. The perch is also used as a "killing post" on which the hapless prey is bashed lifeless. It is a very noisy bird and its laughing “kila kila kila” call (from which it gets its Hindi name) is frequently heard in town and country alike. It breeds from March until the onset of the monsoon, excavating a deep tunnel in sand or mud banks, usually near water.

The White-throated Kingfisher has a wide range from the eastern Mediterranean to the China Sea with several subspecies described.