Malachite Kingfisher

Afrikaans name: Kuifkopvisvanger

Malachite Kingfisher

Photo © Steven Herbert

Alcedo cristata

You may be surprised to learn that many Kingfishers have nothing to do with water. The Malachite Kingfisher is, however, one that you will always see around dams and rivers.

It is a beautiful bird and is often only seen as a colourful object whizzing by. It has a fast and direct flight as it moves from one perch to another.

The Malachite Kingfisher feeds on small fish and insects. Fish are swallowed head first.

Breeding pairs make a tunnel into a sandy bank where they lay up to 6 eggs.

This species may be confused with the similar looking Pygmy Kingfisher but that species occurs away from water which is a great clue to which species you are looking at.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	397	Corythornis cristata cristata
2nd	397	Corythornis cristata
3rd	397	Corythornis cristata
4th	397	Corythornis cristata
5th	431	Alcedo cristatus
6th	431	Alcedo cristatus
7th	91	Corythornis cristatus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	397	Malachite-crested Kingfisher
2nd	397	Malachite Kingfisher
3rd	397	Malachite Kingfisher
4th	397	Malachite Kingfisher
5th	431	Malachite Kingfisher
6th	431	Malachite Kingfisher
7th	91	Malachite Kingfisher

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	397	Kuifkop-visvanger
2nd	397	Kuifkop-visvanger
3rd	397	Kuifkop-visvanger
4th	397	Kuifkop-visvanger
5th	431	Kuifkopvisvanger
6th	431	Kuifkopvisvanger
7th	91	Kuifkopvisvanger

References and further reading

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 55

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 50

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 122

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 51

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 145

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 28

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 161

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 4

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 256

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 248

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 372

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 375

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 271

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 284

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 211

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 21

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 50

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 252

Newmans Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 56

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 252

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 65

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 176

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 53

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 122

Freshwater Life - Author: C. Griffiths, J. Day & M. Picker - Published: 2015 - Page: 62

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 44

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 75

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 143

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 46

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 136

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 56

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 160

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 130

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 90

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 171

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 98

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 98

BirdLife South Africa

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