This species was previous named the variable dwarf kingfisher and had 15 recognised subspecies.

A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2013 found that most of the taxa had substantially diverged from each other.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, shrubland, wetlands, abandoned plantations and dense vegetation along streams.

They usually prey dragonflies and other insects by means of a rapid, direct flight over the forest pools.

The coupled pair dig a short gallery in an embankment, a bank or between the roots of an overturned tree.