Is there a green kingfisher?

Where do small kingfishers live?

This small kingfisher breeds by streams in forests or mangroves. The nest is in a horizontal tunnel which is dug by both sexes. It is up to a metre long made in a river bank.

What kind of bird is a green kingfisher?

Green kingfisher. The green kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) is a resident breeding bird which occurs from southern Texas in the United States south through Central and South America to central Argentina. This small kingfisher breeds by streams in forests or mangroves.

Where do kingfishers live in Africa?

Kingfishers or Alcedinidae are a family of small to medium-sized, brightly colored birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species found in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Oceania but also can be seen in europe.

What does a green kingfisher look like?

Because of these population trends, the current evaluation level of the Green Kingfisher is Least Concern. Green Kingfisher: Small kingfisher, dark green head, back, and wings, white chin, collar, rufous breast band, white belly with black spots.

How many kingfishers are there in Africa?

Africa has 18 species, ten of which occur in Southern and East Africa. The truly aquatic kingfishers are represented in Southern and East Africa by the tiny Malachite Kingfisher, the similar but larger Half-collared Kingfisher, the impressive Giant Kingfisher and the gregarious Pied Kingfisher.

What does a kingfisher look like with a bib?

Their underparts are bright orange and they have a small, white bib underneath their beaks, on their throats. The kingfishers head is blue with orange marks in front and behind the birds eyes and a white mark on each side of the head.

How many kingfishers are there in southern Africa?

Southern Africa is a hotbed of kingfisher species. There are a total of 10 species that can be found in southern Africa and I was fortunate enough to see 9 of them on my previous visit. I would like to share of few photos of my favorite southern African kingfishers with you all today. Let’s start with the smallest; the African Pygmy-Kingfisher.

Where do kingfishers sleep?

Kingfishers normally sleep in some kind of tunnel or hole. There are 86 kingfisher species throughout the world. Africa has 18 species, ten of which occur in Southern and East Africa.

What do African kingfishers eat?

In Southern and East Africa, the truly aquatic kingfishers are the tiny Malachite kingfisher, the similar but larger Half-collared kingfisher, the impressive Giant kingfisher and the gregarious pied kingfisher. These four species feed exclusively on fish or other aquatic creatures.

What does a kingfisher bird look like?

Its back is bright metallic blue and its breast is a coppery-brown. The beak is long and black, though females have a red patch at the base. With a wingspan of 25cm and body length of 16cm, a kingfisher is only slightly larger than a robin, although it is nearly twice as heavy.

How many toes does a kingfisher have?

Their feet are very small, with the two outer toes partly fused together. They nest in holes tunnelled into earth banks. There is only one UK species, but many more worldwide, most of which are dry-land birds rather than waterside ones like the UK kingfisher.

Are kingfishers arboreal birds?

They are arboreal, and scurry through the leaves like rodents, searching for berries, fruit and buds. There are six species worldwide, three in Southern Africa. Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

Do kingfishers live in aquatic ecosystems?

These birds inhabit a variety of ecosystems, and never all of them are primarily based around foraging in aquatic areas. Although many kingfishers primarily hunt fish and related creatures, these birds have a variety of prey and looking grounds.

How do kingfishers fly?

In flight, kingfishers are speedy and direct, rarely flying above tree level. When hunting for fish, the Kingfisher plunge head first towards the water and return to a perch to kill and eat their prey. Kingfishers normally sleep in some kind of tunnel or hole. There are 86 kingfisher species throughout the world.

Where do kingfishers nest?

Where do kingfishers nest and when do they breed? Kingfishers nest in burrows, usually in soft riverbanks. The nest tunnels can be up to 140cm long, ending in a nesting chamber, and can take many days to create.

What are the characteristics of kingfishers?

Kingfishers. Kingfishers have stout bodies, very short tails, short, rounded wings, large heads and long, dagger-like bills. Their feet are very small, with the two outer toes partly fused together. They nest in holes tunnelled into earth banks. There is only one UK species, but many more worldwide,…

What is the distribution of the Kingfish?

The kingfishers have a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring throughout the world’s tropical and temperate regions. They are absent from the polar regions and some of the world’s driest deserts.

Where does the red-backed kingfisher live?

The red-backed kingfisher of Australia lives within the driest deserts, though kingfishers are absent from different dry deserts just like the Sahara. These birds inhabit a variety of ecosystems, and never all of them are primarily based around foraging in aquatic areas.

How do kingfishers find food?

Kingfishers are highly territorial birds. They will locate a prime area based on food sources, desirable perching trees and safe roosting sites. Like most birds, they will search for their food in the mornings and evenings. If the weather is cooler, they will also hunt for food during mid-day. Kingfishers utilize a variety of vocalizations.

Do kingfishers and swallows nest together?

Kingfishers sometimes nest among Bank Swallows, especially in human-made habitats. Rough-winged Swallows may try to nest in kingfisher burrow entrances, but the kingfishers go in and out so frequently that they drive the swallows away. Predators of kingfishers include hawks, mammals, and snakes.

Where do kingfishers live in the US?

Some of their most common habitats are streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, estuaries, and calm marine waters. During the breeding season Belted Kingfishers breed throughout most of North America at elevations up to 9,000 feet.

Are there any belted kingfishers in the US?

Belted Kingfisher. The Belted Kingfisher is a large, noticeable water kingfisher. It is one of the two species that can be found in the northern United States and Canada and is one of only six species of Kingfisher found in the Americas.

What is the scientific name of the red backed kingfisher?

The red-backed kingfisher was first described by the English ornithologist and bird artist John Gould in 1841. He coined the binomial name Halcyon pyrrhopygia. It was known for many years by this scientific name before being transferred to the genus Todiramphus.

Do swallows eat kingfishers?

Rough-winged Swallows may try to nest in kingfisher burrow entrances, but the kingfishers go in and out so frequently that they drive the swallows away. Predators of kingfishers include hawks, mammals, and snakes.