Giant Kingfisher

Overview

The giant kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima) is the largest kingfisher in Africa, where it exists as a resident breeding bird over most of the continent south of the Sahara Desert, excluding the arid southwest. It is currently assessed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Length of 42–46 cm with a large shaggy crest and a large black bill.
• Black upperparts marked with fine white spots, contrasting with white underparts that feature dark flank barring in males and a chestnut belly in females.
• Male plumage includes a chestnut breast band, while the female has a white-spotted black breast band.
• Emits a loud call described as 'wak wak wak'.

Habitat

Found across most of sub-Saharan Africa, the nominate subspecies occupies wooded savanna habitats, whereas the forest race prefers tropical rainforests. It ranges from Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia and south to South Africa, with the forest subspecies distributed from Liberia to northern Angola and western Tanzania.

Diet

This large species feeds on crabs, fish, and frogs, which are caught by diving from a perch.

Did you know?

The species excavates long horizontal nesting tunnels into river banks, and while these are typically 2 m long, a tunnel of 8.5 m has been recorded.