© GW - monacoeye • Gambia, Feb 2013. All rights reserved.

Bird name: Striped Kingfisher
Latin: Halcyon chelicuti
Other: Martin-chasseur strié (Fr), Alción estriado (Es), Streifenliest (De)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa, incl Gambia, South Africa, Tanzania etc
Similar:

The Striped Kingfisher is a small tree kingfisher that doesn’t live next to water or eat fish. I saw the one above on a walk near Gunjur in an arid semi residential area. Then again in Tujereng Woods in a tree - again during a very dry period in February.

The Striped Kingfisher has red on lower bill, whitish collar below dark eyestripe, slightly streaked chest on white background. Not much colour other than greenish (or blue?) tail feathers.

Below, Striped Kingfisher near Gunjur, Gambia, March 2013


Below, Striped Kingfisher in Tujereng Woods, March 2013
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© GW - monacoeye • Marakissa, Gambia, Feb 2013. All rights reserved.

Bird name: Giant Kingfisher
Latin: Megaceryle maxima
Other: Martin-pêcheur géant (Fr), martín gigante africano (Es), Guarda-rios gigante (Pt), Riesenfischer (De)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa
Similar:

The Giant Kingfisher is a very large kingfisher, closely related to the Ringed Kingfisher of South America.

I saw male Giant Kingfishers at Abuko Woods and Marakissa River Lodge. The male has a rufous chest, the female a rufous belly.

Giant Kingfisher near lake at Abuko Woods, Gambia, February 2013.
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© GW - monacoeye • Marakissa, Gambia, Feb 2013. All rights reserved.

Bird name: African Pygmy Kingfisher
Latin: Ispidina picta
Other: Martin-pêcheur pygmée (Fr), Martín pigmeo africano (Es), Zwergkönigsfischer (De)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa
Similar: Malachite Kingfisher

I only saw one African Pygmy Kingfisher while in the Gambia - at Marakissa in the south. It can be differentiated from the other small kingfisher, the Malachite Kingfisher, by its violet cheek, and blue cap rather than hood.More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • Kartong, Gambia, Feb 2013. All rights reserved.

Bird name: Malachite Kingfisher
Latin: Alcedo cristata
Other: Martin-pêcheur huppé (Fr), martín pescador malaquita (Es), Hauben-Zwergfischer (De)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa
Similar: African Pygmy Kingfisher

The Malachite Kingfisher is a small river kingfisher seen fairly regularly by bodies of water in the Gambia in February. The larger blue hood differentiates it from the less common (in Gambia) African Pygmy Kingfisher.

Below, Malachite Kingfisher Kartong Wetlands, Gambia, March 2013
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© GW - monacoeye • Gambia, Feb 2013. All rights reserved.

Bird name: Blue Breasted Kingfisher
Latin: Halcyon malimbica
Other: Martin-chasseur à poitrine bleue (Fr), Alción pechiazul (Es), Zügelliest (De)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Tropical West Africa, incl Gambia
Similar:

We searched quite a bit for the Blue-breasted Kingfisher. Saw one perched on the bank from the boat up to Georgetown. Eventually got a better view of this tree kingfisher in the mangroves near Tendaba - again by boat.

The bird pictured is likely to be a juvenile, as the upper bill is not fully red and the chest not fully blue.

Below, juvenile Blue-breasted Kingfisher, near Tendaba, Gambia, March 2013
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© GW - monacoeye • Marakissa, Gambia, Feb 2013. All rights reserved.

Bird name: Pied Kingfisher
Latin: Ceryle rudis
Other: Martin-pêcheur pie (Fr), Graufischer (De), Martin pescatore bianco e nero (It), Alaca yalıçapkını (Tu), 斑鱼狗 (Ch)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia from Turkey to India to China.
Similar:

The Pied Kingfisher was by far the most common kingfisher that I saw in the Gambia. Nearly always guaranteed to see at least one near a river or lake.

At some areas like Marakissa I saw dozens flying down river at dusk (to their roosting area ?) and up river again at dawn. At Kartong there were banks full of Pied Kingfisher burrows. Apparently they make more than they use. In March they were empty anyway because the breeding season had passed.

The adult male pied Kingfisher (above) has a thin black line across chest, which the female lacks.

Below, female Pied Kingfishers hovers at Kartong wetlands, Gambia, March 2013.


Below, 3 Pied Kingfishers on a lamp post, Gambia, February 2013.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Amazon Kingfisher
Latin: Chloroceryle amazona
Other: Martim-pescador-verde (Br) • Martín pescador amazónico (Es)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Mexico to Argentina, including all Brazil
Similar: Green Kingfisher

The Amazon Kingfisher is a large river kingfisher. The male Amazon Kingfisher (pictured directly below) has a rufous chest. The female Amazon Kingfisher (above) has white and green markings. They are much larger than Green Kingfishers and have less white wing spotting than the latter.

Several near Curicaca Lodge in the Pantanal in August, above ditches beside small roads and above rivers.

Also seen in Amazonia above river banks and in Rio Grande do Sul on telephone wires above wetlands.

Below: a male Amazon Kingfisher in the Pantanal.


Below: a female Amazon Kingfisher in the Pantanal, August.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Ringed Kingfisher
Latin: Megaceryle torquata
Other: Martim-pescador-grande (Br) • Martín pescador grande, Martín pescador de collar (Es)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Texas to Tierra del Fuego, including all of Brazil
Similar:

The Ringed Kingfisher is a large kingfisher, which seemed abundant on the banks of the Rio Claro, in the Pantanal, in August; one was perched every few hundred metres in some places. A large, dominant and vocal bird. Also seen beside roads near drying pools, and in by the river in Napo, Ecuador.

The female Ringed Kingfisher (directly below) has a grey chest, while the male (above) is rufous right up to the white neck line. Bill has a light yellow patch on lower base. Rufous belly, grey wings, white collar, large white patch in front of eye; grey plumage is diagnostic.

Below: female Ringed Kingfisher in the Pantanal, Brazil, 2011.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Green Kingfisher
Latin: Chloroceryle americana
Other: Martín pescador verde (Es) • Martim-pescador-pequeno (Br)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: SW USA to N Argentina
Similar: Amazon Kingfisher

The male Green Kingfisher (above) has a white neck, rufous chest, green head and back, white-spotted black wings and white underneath. The female (below) lacks the rufous colouring.

A smaller bird than the Amazon Kingfisher. Seen regularly in the Pantanal on the banks of the Rio Claro, at Curicaca Lodge, for example. Also Ecuador in the Oriente and Panama in the Canal Zone.

A presumed female Green Kingfisher at Pousada Curicaca.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Brazil, August 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Green and Rufous Kingfisher
Latin: Chloroceryle inda
Other: Martín pescador verdirrufo (Es) • Martim-pescador-da-mata (Br)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Nicaragua to Brazil
Similar: American Pygmy Kingfisher

Just one poor shot of a Green and Rufous Kingfisher in the Pantanal on the banks of the Rio Claro, at Curicaca Lodge. I saw them a couple of times but they seemed less common than the other kingfishers.

Rufous on the entire underside extending to the tail differentiates them from the American Pygmy Kingfisher, which is also much smaller. Some orange on the throat. Females have some green on the upper chest

Copyright: AS/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Kinshasa • December 2010

Bird name: Woodland Kingfisher
Latin: Halcyon senegalensis
Other:
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Tropical Africa
Similar:

A beautiful Woodland Kingfisher seen in the hotel grounds in Kinshasa. Identification: Black eye-stripe, red bill, lower part black, white underparts, blue back and tail, wings blue and black. Head here greyish.

Copyright: monacoeye • Central Panama, April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: American Pygmy Kingfisher
Latin: Chloroceryle aenea
Other: Martín pescador americano chico (Es) • Martim-pescador-anão (Br)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: S Mexico to N Argentina
Similar:

This male American Pygmy Kingfisher (above right) caught a fish and then flew up from a lower a branch and presented it to the female (above left).

The female has a dark band across the chest, the male has a white patch on the lower belly. Otherwise both are rufous below and dark blue-green above.More photos...

Photo copyright: AS/TC/monacoeye • Tanzania

Bird name: Grey Headed Kingfisher
Latin: Halcyon leucocephala
Other: Gray-headed Kingfisher
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range:
Similar:

These Grey-headed Kingfishers were seen on the Serengeti River and Lake Manyara in Tanzania. Their range covers much of sub-Saharan Africa into southern Arabia.

The Grey-headed Kingfisher hunts insects and small lizards - not fish.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Danube Delta, Romania • May 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Common Kingfisher
Latin: Alcedo atthis
Other: Martin Pêcheur d’Europe (Fr) • Eisvogel (De) • Martín pescador común (Es) • Martin pescatore comune (It) • Ijsvogel (Nl) • Kungsfiskare (Sv) • Guarda-rios-comum (Pt)
Family: Alcedinidae • Kingfishers
Range: Eurasia, North Africa
Similar:

One of the most beautiful European birds I have seen. On a first tourist trip from Tulcea, I was very pleased to pass several of these fantastic birds sitting on the branches of trees overhanging shaded waterways.

Also seen in various places on the Cote d’Azur, including once in Monaco.More photos...

092 Alcedinidae • Kingfishers - IOC 2.5 2010

The kingfishers, Alcedinidae, comprise three clades, Alcedininae, Cerylinae, and Daceloninae, which some taxonomists elevate to family status.

Actenoides monachus - Green-backed Kingfisher - Sulawesi
Actenoides princeps - Scaly-breasted Kingfisher - Sulawesi
Actenoides bougainvillei - Moustached Kingfisher - Solomon Islands
Actenoides lindsayi - Spotted Wood Kingfisher - Philippines
Actenoides hombroni - Hombron's Kingfisher - Philippines
Actenoides concretus - Rufous-collared Kingfisher - Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo

Melidora macrorrhina - Hook-billed Kingfisher - New Guinea

Lacedo pulchella - Banded Kingfisher - Southeast Asia, Greater Sundas

Tanysiptera galatea - Common Paradise Kingfisher - New Guinea, Moluccas - new name
Tanysiptera ellioti - Kofiau Paradise Kingfisher - Kofiau Island
Tanysiptera riedelii - Biak Paradise Kingfisher - Biak Island
Tanysiptera carolinae - Numfor Paradise Kingfisher - Numfor Island - new name
Tanysiptera hydrocharis - Little Paradise Kingfisher - S New Guinea, Aru Islands
Tanysiptera sylvia - Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher - New Guinea, NE Australia
Tanysiptera nigriceps - Black-capped Paradise Kingfisher - Bismarck Archipelago
Tanysiptera nympha - Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher - New Guinea - new name
Tanysiptera danae - Brown-headed Paradise Kingfisher - New Guinea - new name

Cittura cyanotis - Lilac Kingfisher - Sulawesi

Clytoceyx rex - Shovel-billed Kookaburra - New Guinea

Dacelo novaeguineae - Laughing Kookaburra - E, SW Australia
Dacelo leachii - Blue-winged Kookaburra - S New Guinea, N Australia
Dacelo tyro - Spangled Kookaburra - S New Guinea, Aru Islands
Dacelo gaudichaud - Rufous-bellied Kookaburra - New Guinea

Caridonax fulgidus - Glittering Kingfisher - Lesser Sundas

Pelargopsis capensis - Stork-billed Kingfisher - Widespread Asia
Pelargopsis melanorhyncha - Great-billed Kingfisher - Sulawesi
Pelargopsis amauroptera - Brown-winged Kingfisher - E India to W Thailand coasts

Halcyon coromanda - Ruddy Kingfisher - Widespread Asia, also E Asia
Halcyon smyrnensis - White-throated Kingfisher - Widespread Asia, also Middle East
Halcyon cyanoventris - Javan Kingfisher - Java
Halcyon badia - Chocolate-backed Kingfisher - C, W Africa
Halcyon pileata - Black-capped Kingfisher - Widespread Asia
Halcyon leucocephala - Grey-headed Kingfisher - Widespread Africa
Halcyon albiventris - Brown-hooded Kingfisher - E, SE, WC Africa
Halcyon chelicuti - Striped Kingfisher - Widespread Africa
Halcyon malimbica - Blue-breasted Kingfisher - C, W Africa
Halcyon senegalensis - Woodland Kingfisher - Widespread Africa
Halcyon senegaloides - Mangrove Kingfisher - E, SE coast Africa

Todiramphus nigrocyaneus - Blue-black Kingfisher - New Guinea
Todiramphus winchelli - Winchell's Kingfisher - Philippines
Todiramphus diops - Blue-and-white Kingfisher - N Moluccas
Todiramphus lazuli - Lazuli Kingfisher - S Moluccas
Todiramphus macleayii - Forest Kingfisher - N, E Australia - New Guinea
Todiramphus albonotatus - White-mantled Kingfisher - Bismarck Archipelago
Todiramphus leucopygius - Ultramarine Kingfisher - Solomon Islands
Todiramphus farquhari - Vanuatu Kingfisher - Vanuatu
Todiramphus funebris - Sombre Kingfisher - N Moluccas
Todiramphus chloris - Collared Kingfisher - Widespread Asia and Australasia, also NE & Arabian Peninsula
Todiramphus enigma - Talaud Kingfisher - Talaud Islands
Todiramphus cinnamominus - Micronesian Kingfisher - Guam, Palau Islands, Caroline islands
Todiramphus saurophagus - Beach Kingfisher - Moluccas to Solomon Islands
Todiramphus sanctus - Sacred Kingfisher - Sumatra to New Guinea
Todiramphus recurvirostris - Flat-billed Kingfisher - Samoa
Todiramphus australasia - Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher - Lesser Sundas, Timor
Todiramphus tutus - Chattering Kingfisher - Society Islands
Todiramphus ruficollaris - Mewing Kingfisher - Cook Islands
Todiramphus veneratus - Society Kingfisher - Society Islands
Todiramphus gambieri - Tuamotu Kingfisher - Tuamotu Archipelago
Todiramphus godeffroyi - Marquesan Kingfisher - Marquesas Islands
Todiramphus pyrrhopygius - Red-backed Kingfisher - Australia

Syma torotoro - Yellow-billed Kingfisher - New Guinea, N Australia
Syma megarhyncha - Mountain Kingfisher - New Guinea

Ispidina lecontei - African Dwarf Kingfisher - C, W Africa
Ispidina picta - African Pygmy Kingfisher - Widespread Africa
Ispidina madagascariensis - Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher - Madagascar

Ceyx erithaca - Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher - Widespread Asia - Rufous-backed morphs sometimes treated as separate species C. rufidorsa
Ceyx melanurus - Philippine Dwarf Kingfisher - Philippines
Ceyx fallax - Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher - Sulawesi
Ceyx lepidus - Variable Dwarf Kingfisher - Moluccas to Solomon Islands, also Philippines - new name
Ceyx cyanopectus - Indigo-banded Kingfisher - Philippines - cyanopecta, argentata, azurea, websteri, and pusilla from Alcedo to Ceyx
Ceyx argentatus - Silvery Kingfisher - Philippines
Ceyx azureus - Azure Kingfisher - Moluccas, New Guinea, N, E Australia
Ceyx websteri - Bismarck Kingfisher - Bismarck Archipelago
Ceyx pusillus - Little Kingfisher - Moluccas to Solomon Islands, N Australia

Alcedo leucogaster - White-bellied Kingfisher - C, W Africa
Alcedo nais - Principe Kingfisher - Príncipe
Alcedo cristata - Malachite Kingfisher - Widespread Africa
Alcedo thomensis - Sao Tome Kingfisher - São Tomé
Alcedo vintsioides - Malagasy Kingfisher - Madagascar region
Alcedo coerulescens - Cerulean Kingfisher - Sumatra to Lesser Sundas
Alcedo euryzona - Blue-banded Kingfisher - Burma, Malay Peninsula, Greater Sundas
Alcedo quadribrachys - Shining-blue Kingfisher - C, W Africa
Alcedo meninting - Blue-eared Kingfisher - Widespread Asia
Alcedo atthis - Common Kingfisher - Widespread Europe Asia, also N Africa, New Guinea
Alcedo semitorquata - Half-collared Kingfisher - E, SC, SE Africa
Alcedo hercules - Blyth's Kingfisher - E Nepal to C Vietnam

Chloroceryle aenea - American Pygmy Kingfisher - S Mexico to N Argentina
Chloroceryle inda - Green-and-rufous Kingfisher - Nicaragua to N Bolivia, SE Brazil
Chloroceryle americana - Green Kingfisher - SW USA to N Argentina
Chloroceryle amazona - Amazon Kingfisher - C Mexico to C Argentina

Megaceryle lugubris - Crested Kingfisher - NE Afghanistan to C Vietnam & Japan
Megaceryle maxima - Giant Kingfisher - Widespread Africa
Megaceryle torquata - Ringed Kingfisher - SW USA to Tierra del Fuego
Megaceryle alcyon - Belted Kingfisher - Americas

Ceryle rudis - Pied Kingfisher - Widespread Africa Asia, also Middle East