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Difference between revisions of "Giant Kingfisher" - BirdForum Opus

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;Megaceryle maxima
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;[[:Category:Megaceryle|Megaceryle]] maxima
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[[Image:Giant_Kingfisher.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo in Abuko, Gambia, by nigelblake]]
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[[Image:Giant_Kingfisher.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Male<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|nigelblake|nigelblake}} <br/> Abuko, [[Gambia]], December 2002]]
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aka, German: Riesenfischer; Afrikaans: Reusevisvanger
 
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==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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At between 42 and 48 cm and up to 375 g (female) this is an impressively large Kingfisher. However it is shy and unobtrusive and therefore can be difficult to see. It has a large crest and finely spotted white on black upperparts. The male has a chestnut breast band and otherwise white underparts with dark flank barring, while the female has a white-spotted black breast band and chestnut belly.
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42 -46 cm (16½-18 in) and up to 375 g (female) this is an impressively large Kingfisher.<br />
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It has a large crest and finely spotted white on black upperparts.<br />
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The '''male''' has a chestnut breast band and otherwise white underparts with dark flank barring, while the '''female''' has a white-spotted black breast band and chestnut belly.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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The Giant Kingfisher is a resident breeding bird over most of the continent south of the Sahara Desert other than the arid southwest.
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[[Image:Giant kingfisherfemale3.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Female<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Scottishdude|Scottishdude}}<br/> [[Gambia]]  March, 2010]]
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Widespread throughout sub-Saharan [[Africa]]:<br />
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'''Western Africa''': [[Mauritania]], [[Senegambia]], [[Senegal]], [[The Gambia]], [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[Guinea]], [[Mali]], [[Sierra Leone]], [[Liberia]], [[Ivory Coast]], [[Burkina Faso]], [[Ghana]], [[Togo]], [[Benin]], [[Nigeria]], [[Niger]], [[Chad]], [[Cameroon]], [[Central African Republic]], [[Equatorial Guinea]], [[Gabon]], [[Congo]], [[Angola]]<br />
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'''Eastern Africa''': [[Sudan]], [[Eritrea]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Kenya]], [[Uganda]], [[Rwanda]], [[Burundi]], [[Tanzania]], [[Zambia]], [[Mozambique]], [[Malawi]]<br />
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'''Southern Africa''': [[Namibia]], [[Botswana]], [[Zimbabwe]], [[South Africa]], [[KwaZulu-Natal]], [[Lesotho]], [[eSwatini]]<br />
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'''African Islands''': Gulf of Guinea Islands: [[Bioko]] (Fernando Po)
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==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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There are two subspecies, ''Megaceryle maxima maxima'', found in open country, and ''Megaceryle maxima gigantea'' in the rainforest. The forest race is darker, less spotted above, and more barred below than maxima, but the two forms intergrade along the forest edge zone.
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====Subspecies====
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There are 2 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
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*''M. m. maxima'':
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:*[[Senegambia]] to [[Ethiopia]] and [[South Africa]]
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*''M. m. gigantea'':
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:*Rainforests of [[Liberia]] to western [[Tanzania]] and northern [[Angola]]
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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[[Image:MG 3602.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|steven(sa)|steven(sa)}}<br /><!--EDITORS: this image does not appear in the Gallery-->]]
 
Almost any water body with sufficient food and overhanging branches, from which to hunt, including streams, rivers, estuaries, seashores and sewage ponds. Common along water furrows in villages in the South Karoo and at irrigation schemes.
 
Almost any water body with sufficient food and overhanging branches, from which to hunt, including streams, rivers, estuaries, seashores and sewage ponds. Common along water furrows in villages in the South Karoo and at irrigation schemes.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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This species feeds on crabs, fish, and frogs, caught in the typical kingfisher way by a dive from a perch, often immersing completely. The prey is then taken to perch and vigorously beaten against solid subject until dead.
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It is shy and unobtrusive and therefore can be difficult to see.
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<p>
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====Diet====
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Monogamous, solitary nester. Breeding is from August to January in a hole excavated into sandbanks. 3-5 oval, white and glossy eggs are laid into these riverbank tunnels.
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The diet consists of crabs, fish, and frogs. They dive from a perch, often immersing completely. The prey is then taken to the perch and vigorously beaten against solid object until dead.
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== Bird Call ==
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====Breeding====
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[[Dictionary_M-O#M|Monogamous]], solitary nester. Breeding is from August to January in a hole excavated into sandbanks. Three to five oval, white and glossy eggs are laid into these riverbank tunnels.
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====Vocalisation====
 
The call is a loud ''wak wak wak''.
 
The call is a loud ''wak wak wak''.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}#Avibase
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#Wikipedia
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#Absolute Astronomy
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{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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*[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&what=allfields&si=Megaceryle+maxima View more images of Giant Kingfisher in the gallery]
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{{GSearch|"Megaceryle maxima" {{!}} "Giant Kingfisher" -Himalayas -Ringed}}
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[[Category:Birds]]
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Megaceryle]]

Latest revision as of 22:22, 16 October 2023

Megaceryle maxima
Male
Photo © by nigelblake
Abuko, Gambia, December 2002



Identification

42 -46 cm (16½-18 in) and up to 375 g (female) this is an impressively large Kingfisher.
It has a large crest and finely spotted white on black upperparts.
The male has a chestnut breast band and otherwise white underparts with dark flank barring, while the female has a white-spotted black breast band and chestnut belly.

Distribution

Female
Photo © by Scottishdude
Gambia March, 2010

Widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa:
Western Africa: Mauritania, Senegambia, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Angola
Eastern Africa: Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi
Southern Africa: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, eSwatini
African Islands: Gulf of Guinea Islands: Bioko (Fernando Po)

Taxonomy

Subspecies

There are 2 subspecies[1]:

  • M. m. maxima:
  • M. m. gigantea:

Habitat

Photo © by steven(sa)

Almost any water body with sufficient food and overhanging branches, from which to hunt, including streams, rivers, estuaries, seashores and sewage ponds. Common along water furrows in villages in the South Karoo and at irrigation schemes.

Behaviour

It is shy and unobtrusive and therefore can be difficult to see.

Diet

The diet consists of crabs, fish, and frogs. They dive from a perch, often immersing completely. The prey is then taken to the perch and vigorously beaten against solid object until dead.

Breeding

Monogamous, solitary nester. Breeding is from August to January in a hole excavated into sandbanks. Three to five oval, white and glossy eggs are laid into these riverbank tunnels.

Vocalisation

The call is a loud wak wak wak.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Avibase
  3. Wikipedia
  4. Absolute Astronomy

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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