Giant Kingfisher

Afrikaans name: Reuse Visvanger

Giant Kingfisher

Photo © Steven Herbert

Ceryle maxima

The Giant Kingfisher is common in South Africa. It can be found over most of the country, other than the arid western regions. Any water habitat suits this species including seashores, estuaries, sewage ponds and freshwater rivers, dams and lakes.

It has a powerful bill which is designed to help it eat its favourite food of crabs. It also catches fish and has been recorded catch fish nearly 18 cm in length. Frogs are also on the menu.

The male and female are fairly similar in looks but there is an easy way to separate them. The male has the brown patch on its chest higher up than the female. It is said that his brown is a waistcoat and her brown is an apron.

The Giant Kingfisher doesn't mess around when it comes to breeding. It excavates a tunnel in a sandbank and these entrance tunnels can be between 1 and 8 metres long! Between 3 and 5 eggs are laid and are tended to by both parents.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	395	Megaceryle maxima maxima
2nd	395	Megaceryle maxima
3rd	395	Megaceryle maxima
4th	395	Megaceryle maxima
5th	429	Ceryle maxima
6th	429	Megaceryle maxima
7th	98	Megaceryle maxima

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	395	Giant Kingfisher
2nd	395	Giant Kingfisher
3rd	395	Giant Kingfisher
4th	395	Giant Kingfisher
5th	429	Giant Kingfisher
6th	429	Giant Kingfisher
7th	98	Giant Kingfisher

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	395	Reuse-visvanger
2nd	395	Reuse-visvanger
3rd	395	Reuse-visvanger
4th	395	Reuse-visvanger
5th	429	Reuse Visvanger
6th	429	Reuse Visvanger
7th	98	Reusevisvanger

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 124

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

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

The Coastal Guide of South Africa - Author: Jacana Media - Published: 2007 - Page: 98

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: 31

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

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: 370

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 283

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 374

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 270

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 210

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

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 248

Newmans Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 54

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 248

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

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

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

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

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 43

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

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 142

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: 134

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 55

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 126

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 159

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

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

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

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