The river kingfishers are one of the three families of bird in the kingfisher group. The family is widespread through Africa, through east and south Asia as far as Australia, with one species, the also appearing in Europe and northern Asia. These are brightly plumaged compact birds with short tails, large heads and long bills. They feed on insects or fish, and lay white eggs in a self-excavated burrow. [abstracted from Wikipedia]


Genus Alcedo

Kingfisher, Common Alcedo atthis Found: Euope, Asia, Africa, Australia
Photographed by:  1) Ravi Vaidyanathan  2, 3, 4) Lukasz Lukasik


Kingfisher, Half-collared  Alcedo semitorquata  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Arno Meintjes  2) David Siu - Knysna, Western Cape Province, South Africa


Kingfisher, Malachite Alcedo cristata    Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Arno Meintjes  3) Hans Hillewaert


Kingfisher, Malagasy  Alcedo vintsioides  Found: Madagascar
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Frank Vassen - Madagascar



Genus Ceyx

Kingfisher, Madagascar Pygmy  Ceyx madagascariensis  Endemic to Madagascar
Photographed by: 1, 2) Frank Vassen - Mantadia National Park, Madagascar



Genus Ispidina

Kingfisher, African Pygmy  Ispidina picta  aka Ceyrx pictus  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Steve Garvie  - Abuko, The Gambia  2) Yoky - Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania  3) Arno Meintjes






The water kingfishers are one of the three families of kingfishers. All American kingfischer species are in this family. These are all fish-eating species, unlike many representatives of the other two families.


Genus Ceryle - 1 species

Kingfisher, Pied Ceryle rudis   Found: Asia (including China and India), Africa
Photographed by:  1, 2) Arno Meintjes  3, 4, 5, 6) Dick Daniels - St. Lucia, South Africa 




Genus Megaceryle

Kingfisher, Giant  Megaceryle maxima  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Chris Eason  2) Brian Gratwicke    3) Arno Meintjes  4) Dick Daniels - St Lucia, South Africa
1) Female (colored below)  2, 3) male (colored above)






The tree kingfishers are the most numerous of the three families of birds in the kingfisher group. Tree kingfishers are widespread through Asia and Australasia, but also appear in Africa and the islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, utilising a range of habitats from tropical rainforest to open woodlands. The tree kingfishers are short-tailed large-headed compact birds with long pointed bills. Most are monogamous and territorial, nesting in holes in trees or termite nests. Although some tree kingfishers frequent wetlands, none are specialist fish-eaters. Most species dive onto prey from a perch, mainly taking slow moving invertebrates or small vertebrates. [abstracted from Wikipedia]

Genus Halcyon

Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Halcyon albiventris   Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1) Arno Meintjes  2) Dick Daniels - Tanzania   3) Dick - Kruger National Park, South Africa


Kingfisher, Grey-headed Halcyon leucocephala Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1, 2) Dick Daniels - Tanzania 3) Alastair Rae  4) Arno Meintjes


Kingfisher, Striped Halcyon chelicuti   Found: Africa
Photographed by  1) Arno Meintjes  2) Jerry Friedman - Kenya


Kingfisher, Woodland Halcyon senegalensis   Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1, 2) Dick Daniels - Tanzania  3, 4, 5) Arno Meintjes