Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Afrikaans name: Bruinkopvisvanger

Brown-hooded Kingfishers are common in some residential areas

Photo © Steven Herbert

Halcyon albiventris

The Brown-hooded Kingfisher is a common and widespread bird in South Africa. It is found in the southern and eastern regions of the country.

Despite being a kingfisher this bird does not catch fish. Its food consists mainly of insects as well as smaller birds, frogs and reptiles.

The Brown-hooded Kingfisher nests in a tunnel in a bank. Both sexes assist in digging the tunnel. It lays between 2 and 5 eggs. The pair remain together for life.

This bird weighs around 60 grams and is around 24 cm in length.

The habitats favoured by the Brown-hooded Kingfisher include parks, gardens, bushveld, forest edges and thornveld.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	402	Chelicutona albiventris albiventris
2nd	402	Halcyon albiventris
3rd	402	Halcyon albiventris
4th	402	Halcyon albiventris
5th	435	Halcyon albiventris
6th	435	Halcyon albiventris
7th	96	Halcyon albiventris

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	402	Brown-hooded Kingfisher
2nd	402	Brown-hooded Kingfisher
3rd	402	Brown-hooded Kingfisher
4th	402	Brown-hooded Kingfisher
5th	435	Brownhooded Kingfisher
6th	435	Brownhooded Kingfisher
7th	96	Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	402	Bruinkop-visvanger
2nd	402	Bruinkop-visvanger
3rd	402	Bruinkop-visvanger
4th	402	Bruinkop-visvanger
5th	435	Bruinkopvisvanger
6th	435	Bruinkopvisvanger
7th	96	Bruinkopvisvanger

References and further reading

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

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

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 163

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 68

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 170

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 258

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 375

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 250

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 287

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 378

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 274

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 52

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 213

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

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 66

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

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 178

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 411

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 79

Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 83

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 124

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 17

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 160

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 46

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

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 76

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 145

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 137

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 57

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 93

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 162

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

African Wildlife - A photographic safari - Author: Nigel and Wendy Dennis - Published: 1999 - Page: 96

African Wildlife - Vol 38 No 6 - Author: - Published: 1984 - Page: 275

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 99

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 99

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 172

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds