>Alcedo thomensis (São Tomé Kingfisher)

São Tomé Kingfisher

São Tomé Kingfisher
adult (top) and juvenile
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Genus:	Alcedo
Species:	A. thomensis
Binomial name
Alcedo thomensis (Salvadori, 1902)
Synonyms
Corythornis thomensis

The São Tomé Kingfisher (Alcedo thomensis) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to São Tomé and Príncipe.

>Alcedo nais (Príncipe Kingfisher)

Príncipe Kingfisher

 

Príncipe Kingfisher
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Genus:	Alcedo
Species:	A. nais
Binomial name
Alcedo nais Kaup, 1848
Synonyms
Corythornis nais

The Príncipe Kingfisher (Alcedo nais) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to São Tomé and Príncipe.

>Alcedo pusilla (Little Kingfisher)

Little Kingfisher

Little Kingfisher
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Genus:	Alcedo
Species:	A. pusilla
Binomial name
Alcedo pusilla Temminck, 1836

The Little Kingfisher (Alcedo pusilla) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is found in open forest, woodland, swamps and mangroves in Australia (northern Queensland and north Northern Territory), Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

>Alcedo coerulescens (Cerulean Kingfisher)

Cerulean Kingfisher

Cerulean Kingfisher
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Genus:	Alcedo
Species:	A. coerulescens
Binomial name
Alcedo coerulescens (Vieillot, 1818)

The Cerulean Kingfisher (Alcedo coerulescens) is a near passerine bird in the kingfisher (Alcedo) genus which is found in parts of India. With an overall metallic blue impression, it is very similar to the Common Kingfisher, but it is white underneath instead of orange.

This species is sometimes called the Small Blue Kingfisher but in India and some other regions, the name of Small Blue Kingfisher was used for the Alcedo atthis (Common Kingfisher).

>Alcedo leucogaster (White-bellied Kingfisher)

White-bellied Kingfisher

White-bellied Kingfisher
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Genus:	Alcedo
Species:	A. leucogaster
Binomial name
Alcedo leucogaster (Fraser, 1843)
Synonyms
Corythornis leucogaster

The White-bellied Kingfisher (Alcedo leucogaster) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidaefamily. It is found in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.

>Alcedo cristata (Malachite Kingfisher)

Malachite Kingfisher

Malachite Kingfisher
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Genus:	Alcedo
Species:	A. cristata
Binomial name
Alcedo cristata Pallas, 1764
Subspecies
A. c. christata A. c. galerita A. c. robertsi A. c. stuartkeithi
Synonyms
Corythornis cristatus

The Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata) is a river kingfisher which is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara. It is largely resident except for seasonal climate related movements.

This is a small kingfisher, 13 cm in length. The general colour of the upper parts of the adult bird is bright metallic blue. The head has a short crest of black and blue feathers, which gives rise to the scientific name. The face, cheeks and underparts are rufous and there are white patches on the throat and rear neck sides.

The bill is black in young birds and reddish orange in adults; the legs are bright red. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are a duller version of the adult.

This is a common species of reeds and rank vegetation near slow moving water or ponds. The flight of the Malachite Kingfisher is rapid, the short rounded wings whirring until they appear a mere blur. It usually flies low over water.

The bird has regular perches or stands from which it fishes. These are usually low over the water. It sits upright, its tail pointed downwards. It drops suddenly with a splash and usually returns at once with a struggling captive.

Large food items are beaten on a bough or rail; small fish and insects are promptly swallowed. A fish is usually lifted and carried by its middle, but its position is changed, sometimes by tossing it into the air, before it is swallowed head downwards. Fish, aquatic insects and crustaceans are eaten.

The nest is a tunnel in a sandy bank, usually, though not always, over water. Both birds excavate. Most burrows incline upward before the nesting chamber is reached.

There is no nest, but three or four clutches of 3-6 round white eggs are placed on a litter of fish bones and disgorged pellets.

The call of this kingfisher is then a short shrill seek. The breeding song is a chuckling li-cha-cha-chui-chui.

There is a closely related species in Madagascar, the Madagascar Malachite Kingfisher, or Malagasy Kingfisher, (Alcedo vintsioides). This has a black bill and greenish crest, and is not quite as dependent on water as the African species. It is otherwise similar in plumage and behaviour to the more widespread species.

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  Adult Lake Mburo, Uganda
 
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  Juvenile Lake Mburo, Uganda

>Alcedo argentata (Silvery Kingfisher)

Silvery Kingfisher

Silvery Kingfisher
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Genus:	Alcedo
Species:	A. argentata
Binomial name
Alcedo argentata Tweeddale, 1877

The Silvery Kingfisher (Alcedo argentata) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

In the Philippines, it is called the kasay-kasay bird.

>Alcedo cyanopecta (Indigo-banded Kingfisher)

Indigo-banded Kingfisher

Indigo-banded Kingfisher
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Genus:	Alcedo
Species:	A. cyanopectus
Binomial name
Alcedo cyanopectus Lafresnaye, 1840
Synonyms
Alcedo cyanopecta Lafresnaye, 1840 [orth. error]

The Indigo-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo cyanopectus) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines, where it is a generally uncommon but locally common resident of the northern and central islands. There are two subspecies, the nominate race, which occurs on Luzon, Polillo, Mindoro, Sibuyan and Ticao, and A. c. nigriostris, which is found in Panay,Negros and Cebu. It forms a superspecies with the Silvery Kingfisher of the southern Philippines.

The Indigo-banded Kingfisher feeds on fish and aquatic insects. It perches on rocks and overhanging branches and foliage and dives steeply into the water to catch its prey. Once caught, it returns the prey to the perch where it is beaten and swallowed. Little is known about its breeding behaviour, although it is known to nest in tunnels dug into the banks of streams and rivers.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.

>Alcedo euryzona (Blue-banded Kingfisher)

Blue-banded Kingfisher

Blue-banded Kingfisher
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Genus:	Alcedo
Species:	A. euryzona
Binomial name
Alcedo euryzona Temminck, 1830

The Blue-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo euryzona) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

>Alcedo websteri (Bismarck Kingfisher)

Bismarck Kingfisher

Bismarck Kingfisher
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Genus:	Alcedo
Species:	A. websteri
Binomial name
Alcedo websteri (Hartert, 1898)

The Bismarck Kingfisher (Alcedo websteri) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, freshwater lakes, and freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss.

>Alcedo azurea (Azure Kingfisher)

Azure Kingfisher

Azure Kingfisher
A. a. ruficollaris
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Genus:	Alcedo
Species:	A. azurea
Binomial name
Alcedo azurea Latham, 1802
Subspecies
A. a. azurea Latham, 1802 Southern Australian population A. a. ruficollaris (Bankier, 1841) Northern Australian population A. a. dienemensis (Gould, 1846) Tasmanian population A. a. lessonii (Cassin, 1850) Southern New Guinea population A. a. affinis (G.R. Gray, 1860) North Maluku population A. a. yamdenae (Rothschild, 1901) South Banda Sea population A. a. ochrogaster (Reichenow, 1903) Northern New Guinea population

The Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea is a small kingfisher (17-19 cm), in the river kingfisher family, Alcedinidae. It is found in Northern and Eastern Australia and Tasmania, as well as the lowlands of New Guinea and neighbouring islands, and out to North Maluku and Romang.

It is a very colourful bird, with deep blue to azure back, a large white to buff spot on side of neck and throat, rufous-buff with some blue-violet streaks on breast and flanks. The feet are red with only two forward toes. The lores (the region between the eye and the bill) are white and inconspicuous except in front view, where they stand out as two large white eye-like spots which may have a role in warding off potential predators.

Axure Kingfisher showing large white eye-like lores

The subspecies differ only in minor details. ruficollaris is smaller, brighter, and has more blue on the flanks. diemenensis is rather large, short-billed, and has a distinctly darker crown. lessoni is more contrasting, with little blue on the flanks. affinis has a red billtip, as has the smaller yamdenae, and ochrogaster is very pale below. Still, there is very little intergradation in the areas where subspecies meet. Comparing subspecific variation with climate data, the former's pattern does not follow and in some instances runs contrary to Bergmann's Rule and Gloger's Rule.(Schodde & Mason 1976, Woodall 2001)

The contact zone between the mainland Australian subspecies is along the east coast of Far North Queensland, between Cairns and Princess Charlotte Bay (Schodde & Mason 1976), that of the New Guinea ones between Simbu Province and the northern Huon Peninsula, as well as south of Cenderawasih Bay.(Woodall 2001)

Habitat includes the banks of vegetated creeks, lakes, swamps, tidal estuaries and mangroves. Often difficult to see until it quickly darts from a perch above water. Feeds on freshwater yabbies and small fish. Nest in a chamber up to 1 metre long in an earthen creek bank. 5-7 white, rounded, glossy eggs. Voice is a high-pitched, shrill, 'pseet-pseet'.

>Alcedo meninting (Blue-eared Kingfisher)

Blue-eared Kingfisher

Blue-eared Kingfisher
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Genus:	Alcedo
Species:	A. meninting
Binomial name
Alcedo meninting Horsfield, 1821

The Blue-eared Kingfisher,Alcedo meninting, is found in south and southeast Asia. This is a small kingfisher almost identical to the Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis. The Blue-eared Kingfisher is distinguished from the Common Kingfisher by blue ear coverts, darker and more intense cobalt-blue upperparts with richer rufous under parts.

The juvenile Blue-eared Kingfisher has similar rufous ear-coverts like the Common Kingfisher; but it usually shows some mottling on the throat and upper breast which disappears when the bird reaches adulthood.

The average length of this kingfisher is 16 cm. It is found near pools and streams in dense evergreen forest, situated under 1000m of altitude.

>Alcedo quadribrachys (Shining-blue Kingfisher)

Shining-blue Kingfisher

Shining-blue Kingfisher
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Coraciiformes
Family:	Alcedinidae
Genus:	Alcedo
Species:	A. quadribrachys
Binomial name
Alcedo quadribrachys Bonaparte, 1850

The Shining-blue Kingfisher (Alcedo quadribrachys) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is found in much of sub-Saharan Africa as far south as Zambia.

Subspecies A. q. quadribrachys (top) andA. q. guentheri (bottom); illustration by Keulemans, 1892