Blyth's kingfisher

Alcedo hercules

(Photo from World Birds)

Common name:
Blyth's kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-de-Blyth (pt); martin-pêcheur de Blyth (fr); martín pescador hércules (es); Herkules eisvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Coraciiformes
Family Alcedinidae

Range:
This species is found from extreme north-eastern India and eastern Nepal, into extreme southern China, and southwards into Myanmar, northern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

Size:
These birds are 22 cm long and weigh around 60 g.

Habitat:
The Blyth's kingfisher is found along streams and small rivers, and adjacent areas of moist tropical forests, favouring deep ravines and hilly country. They occur at altitudes of 200-1.200 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on fish, but are also known to take some insects.

Breeding:
Blyth's kingfishers breed in March-July. They nest is placed at the end of a deep tunnel, excavated into the bank of forest stream or vertical face of forest ravine. There the female lays 4-6 eggs which are incubated by both parents. There is no available information regarding the length of the incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a large breeding range and is reported to be widespread, but occurring at low densities. The population is suspected to be declining at a slow to moderate rate, mainly due to habitat loss and fragmentation caused by ongoing deforestation. Construction of dams, human disturbance and river pollution possibly also affect this species.

Giant kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Photo by Steve Garvie (Flickr)

Common name:
giant kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-gigante (pt); martin-pêcheur géant (fr); martín gigante africano (es); riesenfischer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Coraciiformes
Family Alcedinidae

Range:
These birds are found throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of the arid areas of Namibia, Botswana and north-western South Africa, and northern Kenya, eastern Ethiopia and Somalia.

Size:
The giant kingfisher is 42-48 cm long and 255-425 g.

Habitat:
The giant kingfisher is found in large perennial rivers, and in lakes and dams with plenty of marginal woody growth, also using moist tropical forests, swamp forests, mangroves, and estuaries and other intertidal habitats.

Diet:
They mainly hunt fishes, particularly cichlids and groupers, but also take river crabs, frogs, toads and, occasionally, small reptiles and insects. 

Breeding:
Giant kingfishers breed in August-March, varying among different parts of their range. They nest in solitary pairs, with both sexes helping excavate the nest tunnel in a river bank, cliff or sand quarry. The tunnel can be up to 1,8 m long and has an unlined nest chamber at the end. There the female lays 3-5 white eggs which are incubated by both parents for 25-27 days. The chicks fledge about 37 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 3 weeks later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and is reported to be widespread and common in some areas. The population is suspected to be in decline, possibly owing to loss of nesting sites and the effects of pesticide run-off from adjacent farmland. It is also shot as a pest at some trout hatcheries.

Rufous-collared kingfisher

Actenoides concretus

Photo by Sombat Kongwithtaya (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
rufous-collared kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-de-coleira-ruiva (pt); martin-chasseur trapu (fr); alción malayo (es); Malaienliest (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Coraciiformes
Family Alcedinidae

Range:
This species is found from extreme southern Myanmar and Thailand, across the Malay Peninsula, and into Borneo, Sumatra and adjacent islands in Indonesia.

Size:
These birds are 23-24 cm long and weigh 60-90 g.

Habitat:
The rufous-collared kingfisher is mainly found in the understorey and mid-storey of tropical rainforests, also using tall, regenerating logged forests. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.700 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on large arthropods, including isopods, cicadas, beetles, mantids, spiders and scorpions, but also take fish, snails, small snakes and lizards.

Breeding:
Rufous-collared kingfishers breed in December-June. They are monogamous and both sexes participate in burrow excavating the nest burrow, located on a low bank or man-made ditch, usually near a stream. The female lays 2 eggs which are incubated for about 22 days. There is no available information on the fledgling period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a very large breeding range, but is suspected to be declining at a moderate rate as a result of deforestation. Rates of forest loss in the Sundaic lowlands have been extremely rapid, owing partly to the escalation of illegal logging and land conversion, with deliberate targeting of all remaining stands of valuable timber including those inside protected areas. Forest fires have also had a damaging effect. The magnitude of these threats may be allayed by this species tolerance of hill forests, which are under less pressure from logging and agricultural conversion.

Sacred kingfisher

Todiramphus sanctus

Photo by Chris Wynne (Flickr)

Common name:
sacred kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-sagrado (pt); martin-chasseur sacré (fr); alción sagrado (es); götzenliest (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Coraciiformes
Family Alcedinidae

Range:
This species breeds throughout most of mainland Australia, as well as in New Zealand and in western Melanesia as fas east as Fiji. The populations in southern Australia migrate north to winter in Papua-New Guinea and throughout Indonesia.

Size:
These birds are19-23 cm long and weigh 30-60 g.

Habitat:
The sacred kingfisher is mosty found in tropical forests, such as in Eucalyptus woodlands and rainforests, but also in other types of open forest, Acacia scrublands, Melaleuca swamps, grasslands with scattered trees, mangroves, coastal lakes and lagoons, both sandy and rocky coastlines, rural gardens, arable land, plantations and urban parks.

Diet:
They hunt by pouncing on their prey from a perch, taking a wide range of prey including
a wide range of insects and other invertebrates, such as spiders, centipedes, worms and crustaceans, but also small vertebrates including fishes, tadpoles and frogs, lizards, snakes, birds and mice.

Breeding:
Sacred kingfishers are monogamous and pair bonds possibly last several years. They breed in September-March and nest in a tree hollow or in a tunnel excavated by both sexes in a bank, cliff or even a termite mound. the female lays 3-7 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 16-21 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 24-29 days after hatching, but continue to receive food from the parents for another 7-10 days. Each pair usually raises 2 broods per season, but they may not breed during drought years.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and although there are no reliable population estimated the population is suspected to be increasing owing to opening up of forest areas and road building which has provided an increase in suitable nesting sites.

Half-collared kingfisher

Alcedo semitorquata

Photo by Warwick Tarboton (Warwick Tarboton)

Common name:
half-collared kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-de-colar (pt); martin-pêcheur à demi-collier (fr); martín pescador cobalto (es); kobalteisvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Coraciiformes
Family Alcedinidae

Range:
This species is patchily distributed in East Africa, from Ethiopia to South Africa, and also through Zambia and southern D.R. Congo into Angola.

Size:
These birds are 18 cm long and weigh 35-40 g.

Habitat:
The half-collared kingfisher is mostly found in narrow streams and rivers fringed with dense vegetation, but also use fresh and brackish water lakes, estuaries and tropical dry forests.

Diet:
They feed mainly on small fish, such as tilapias, robbers and barbs, but also eat crabs, aquatic insects and small amphibians.

Breeding:
Half-collared kingfishers breed in July-March. The nest is a burrow excavated by both sexes into a vertical riverbanks, with the entrance often concealed by overhanging vegetation. The female lays 3-4 white eggs which are incubated by both sexes for 16 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge about 27 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be widespread and locally common. The species has declined locally owing to pollution, river siltation and habitat destruction, but it is not considered threatened at present.

Black-backed kingfisher

Ceyx erithaca

Photo by Peter Ericsson (Lee's Birdwatching Adventures)

Common name:
black-backed kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-anão-oriental (pt); martin-pêcheur pourpré (fr); martín pescador enano oriental (de); dschungelfischer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Coraciiformes
Family Alcedinidae

Range:
This species is found across much of south-east Asia, from India to Indonesia.

Size:
These tiny kingfishers are 12-13 cm long and weigh 14 g.

Habitat:
The black-backed kingfisher is found in tropical rainforests, mangroves and tropical dry forests, mainly along rivers, streams and marshes. They can also be found in plantations. It is present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.300 m.

Diet:
They feed on geckos, skinks, crabs, snails, frogs, crickets and dragonflies.

Breeding:
These birds breed in June-September. The nest is a horizontal tunnel up to a metre in length, where the female lays 4-5 eggs. The eggs are incubated for 17 days and the chicks fledge 20 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range, but is described as scarce. The population is suspected to be declining locally owing to ongoing habitat destruction, but the black-backed kingfisher is not considered threatened at present.

Blue-breasted kingfisher

Halcyon malimbica

Photo by Manu Romero (MRP Animales)

Common name:
blue-breasted kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-de-peito-azul (pt); martin-chasseur à poitrine bleue (fr); alción pechiazul (es); zügelliest (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Coraciiformes
Family Alcedinidae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Uganda and Tanzania, northern D.R. Congo and northern Angola.

Size:
These birds are 20-30 cm long and weigh 65-95 g.

Habitat:
The blue-breasted kingfisher is mostly found in moist tropical forests, but also in mangroves, flooded grasslands, inland wetlands such as lakes, river and freshwater marshes, and nearby dry savannas and plantations. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.800 m.

Diet:
They feed on large insects and other arthropods, frogs, fishes and also the fruits of oil palms.

Breeding:
Blue-breasted kingfishers can breed all year round, varying between different parts of their range. They nest in holes excavated into arboreal termite nests, usually 6-10 m above the ground. There the female lays 2 eggs which are incubated for 18-22 days. There is no information regarding the length of the fledgling period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as widespread and uncommon to common. The population is suspected to be declining locally owing to ongoing habitat destruction.

Laughing kookaburra

Dacelo novaeguineae

Photo by Richard Taylor (Wikipedia)

Common name:
laughing kookaburra (en);  cucaburra-comum (pt); martin-chasseur géant (fr); cucaburra común (es); jägerliest (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Coraciiformes
Family Alcedinidae

Range:
These birds are found in eastern and southern Australia and have recently been introduced to Tasmania, south-western Australia and New Zealand.

Size:
Laughing kookaburras are 40-45 cm long and have a wingspan of 56-66 cm. They weigh 190-465 g.

Habitat:
They are mostly found in dry and open eucalyptus forests and woodlands, but also along rivers and streams, in agricultural areas and in wooded areas within urban areas.

Diet:
These birds eat insects, such as beetles and grasshopper, insects, worms, crustaceans and also small snakes, mammals, frogs and some birds. They catch their prey by pouncing from a suitable perch.

Breeding:
Laughing kookaburras breed in August-January. They are monogamous and believed to pair for life, but offspring from the previous year often help incubate and raise the chicks. They nest in a tree cavity, either a natural cavity or a burrow excavated in an arboreal termite mound, about 10 m above the ground, where the female lays 2-4 white eggs. The eggs are mainly incubated by the female, but also the male and the helpers for 24-29 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and the helpers and fledge 32-40 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as widespread and common.
The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction, but the laughing kookaburra is not threatened at present.

Pied kingfisher

Ceryle rudis

Photo by Tarique Sani (Flickr)

Common name:
pied kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-malhado (pt); martim-pêcheur pie (fr); martím pescador bicolor (es); graufischer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Coraciiformes
Family Alcedinidae

Range:
This species is found throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa, in Egypt and the Middle East as far north as Turkey and as far east as southern Iran, and also in southern Asia, from Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan, throughout India and into southern China, Thailand and Vietnam.

Size:
These birds are 25-29 cm long and weigh 70-100 g.

Habitat:
The pied kingfisher is found in a wide range of fresh and salt water habitats, including slow-moving rivers, estuaries, mangroves, lakes, tidal rock pools, lagoons, dams and reservoirs with some nearby trees or man-made structures suitable for perching.

Diet:
They mainly hunt fish, especially Cichlidae, Cyprinidae, Characidae and some Clupeidae. They also take aquatic insects such as dragonflies and their larvae, water bugs, water beetles, some grasshoppers and crickets, crustaceans and more rarely frogs, tadpoles and molluscs.

Breeding:
Pied kingfishers are monogamous, cooperative breeder, with non-mated birds helping raise the offspring of a mated pair. The helpers are usually the offspring from the previous year. They can breed all year round, varying between different part of their range. Both sexes build the nest, a long tunnel excavated on a vertical sandbank, and nests may be isolated or in colonies of up to 100 birds. The female lays 1-7 glossy white eggs, which she mostly incubates alone for 17-18 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and the helpers, fledging 24-29 days after hatching. They only become fully independent 1-2 months after fledging.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and is described as abundant, in fact being one of the most common kingfishers in the world. This species may benefit from human dams and fish farms, but is also negatively affected by poisons which are bioaccumulated on their fish prey.

Belted kingfisher

Ceryle alcyon

(Photo from The Nevis Biodiversity Project)

Common name:

belted kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-americano (pt); martin-pêcheur d'Amerique (fr); martín gigante norteamericano (es); gürtelfischer (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Coraciiformes

Family Alcedinidae

Range:

This species is found breeding throughout North America. The northern population migrate south to winter in the southernmost United States, in Mexico, Central America and northern Colombia, Venezuela and Suriname.

Size:

This large kingfisher is 28-35 cm long and has a wingspan of 48-58 cm. They weigh 140-170 g.

Habitat:

Belted kingfishers are found along streams, rivers, lakes, and estuaries.

Diet:

They mostly eat fishes, amphibians, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic insects, but will sometimes also eat small rodents, reptiles and even berries.

Breeding:

Belted kingfishers nest in a deep tunnel, which they dig in a sandy bank. There the female lays 5-8 white eggs which are incubated by both parents for 23-24 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 18-23 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has an extremely large breeding range and a global population of 2 million individuals. The overall population has had stable population trends over the last 40 years, but some local declines have been detected.

African pygmy kingfisher

Ispidina picta

Photo by Gerard Calberac (Trek Nature)

Common name:

African pygmy kingfisher (en); pica-peixe-pigmeu (pt); martin-pêcheur pygmée (fr); martín pigmeo africano (es); zwergkönigsfischer (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Coraciiformes

Family Alcedinidae

Range:

This African species is found throughout sub-Saharan African, from Mauritania and Mali across to Ethopia and Eritrea, and south all the way to South Africa.

Size:

This tiny kingfisher is 11-13 cm long and weighs 12-13 g.

Habitat:

They are found in a wide range of woodland habitats, namely savannas and riverine forests, but also scrublands, grasslands, open rivers and streams, coastal bushes, plantations and gardens. they are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.500 m.

Diet:

African pygmy kingfishers mostly eat insects, namely crickets and grasshoppers, beetles, flies, butterflies, moths and caterpillars. They also eat spiders, millipedes, crabs, frogs, skinks and lizards.

Breeding:

These birds breed in October-December. They nest in burrows dug into an earthen banks, such as a erosion gullies, stream banks, termite mounds, trenches and pits. There the female lays 3-6 eggs which are incubated by both sexes for 18 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 18 days ater hatching, becoming fully independent soon after fledging.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has an extremely large breeding range and is described as frequent to common, although uncommon at the periphery of its range. In some areas deforestation may have a negative impact on this species, but overall the population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Amazon kingfisher

Chloroceryle amazona

Photo by Lip Kee (Flickr)

Common name:

Amazon kingfisher (en); martim-pescador-verde (pt); martin-pêcheur d'Amazonie (fr); martín pescador amazónico (es); Amazonasfischer (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Coraciiformes

Family Alcedinidae

Range:

This species is found in South America, east of the Andes, from central Argentina to Venezuela, and then north into Central America up to northern Mexico.

Size:

The Amazon kingfisher is 29-31 cm long. Males weigh 100-120 g while females tend to be larger, weighing 125-140 g.

Habitat:

They are found in inland water bodies, along wooded lakeshores and large-slow flowing rivers. Usually found in the lowlands, this species may be found at altitudes of up to 2.500 m in some parts of their range.

Diet:

Amazon kingsfishers mostly eat fish, but also crustaceans, amphibians and aquatic insect larvae. They perch low above the water and dives head first to catch their prey.

Breeding:

These birds nest in a hole, excavated in a river bank, eroded ravine, or road embankments, generally located near water. There the female lays 3-4 eggs which are incubated for 22 days. Usually the female incubates during the night and the male incubates during the day. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 29-30 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

The Amazon kingfisher has an extremely large breeding range and a global population of 500.000-5.000.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Silvery kingfisher

Alcedo argentata

Photo by Micky Lim (Oriental Bird Images)

Common name:

silvery kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-prateado (pt); martin-pêcheur argenté (fr); martín pescador plateado (es); silberfischer (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Coraciiformes

Family Alcedinidae

Range:

This species is endemic to The Philippines, with two distinc subspecies being found in different island. A. argentata flumenicola is found on Samar, Leyte and Bohol, while A. a. argentata is found on Dinagat, Siargao, Mindanao and Basilan.

Size:

These tiny kingfishers are 14 cm long and weigh 13-16 g.

Habitat:

The silvery kingfisher is found in forested streams, mostly in tropical and sub-tropical moist forests. They will tolerate secondary and selectively logged forest and even streamside vegetation within coconut plantations, close to forest edge, but terminalia and sago are the principal forest types used by this species.

Diet:

They hunt small fishes and crabs by diving into the water from a perch.

Breeding:

This species breeds in February-May. They nest in holes in streamside banks, where the female lays 2 white eggs. There is no available information regarding the incubation and fledging time. The chicks are naked, blind and helpless when they hatch, and stand on their heels, unlike any adult bird.

Conservation:

IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)

With a global population estimated at just 2.500-10.000 individuals present in just a few small areas within The Philippines, this species is threatened by forest loss and the remaining tracts of lowland forest with clear streams suitable for this species are under severe pressure and as a result the silvery kingfisher is suspected to be declining rapidly.

Chocolate-backed kingfisher

Halcyon badia

Photo by David Greyo (Oiseaux)

Common name:

chocolate-backed kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-chocolate (pt); martin-chasseur marron (fr); alcion castaño (es); kastanienliest (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Coraciiformes

Family Alcedinidae

Range:

This African species is present in sub-Saharan Africa, from the Central African Republic and Sudan in the north, down to Angola in the south, and west to Nigeria, Liberia and Guinea.

Size:

This medium-sized forest kingfisher has a wingspan of 20-22 cm.

Habitat:

Confined to forest and gallery forest, their main habitat are tropical and subtropical lowland moist forests. They can also be found in mountain moist forests, up to an altitude of 1500 m and occasionally in dry savanna.

Diet:

They mostly hunt insects, particularly Orthoptera and Coleoptera. Also known to take mantids, earwigs, bugs, cicadas and even spiders.

Breeding:

This species breeds in July-November, during the rainy season. They nest on a hole in a tree, sometimes a hole excavated by woodpeckers. Usually lays 2 white eggs which are incubated by both parents.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

The chocolate-backed kingfisher is a common and wide spread species within its range and suitable habitats, thus not being threatened at present.