Newsletter / Blog
2012-08-19 Aves bird of the week – Giant Kingfisher – Megaceryle maxima
Giant Kingfisher
The Giant Kingfisher - Megaceryle
maxima - is the largest Kingfisher in the world. It is found across much of
sub-Saharan Africa and is fairly common in South Africa.
Description
The Giant Kingfisher has a long,
large black bill, large crest and finely spotted white and black upperparts.
The male has a chestnut breast band and otherwise white underparts with dark
flank barring, and the female has a white-spotted black breast band and chestnut
belly.
Call
The call is a loud wak wak wak.
Food
They feed mainly crabs, with fish
and frogs making up the rest of the diet. Prey is caught in the typical
kingfisher way by a dive from a perch.
Breeding
The breeding season is normally
between July to January. The nest is excavated by both sexes, into a vertical
sandbank close to the waterline. It consists of a long tunnel, ending in a
chamber. The female lays 3 to 5 eggs, which are incubated for 25 to 27
days by both sexes. The chicks are fed mainly by the male every one to four
hours and stay dependent on the parents for between 56 to 60 days.
Conservation Status – Least Concern
This species has an extremely
large range and is fairly common in protected areas. The population is
suspected to be in decline owing to pesticide run-off from adjacent farmland.
It is shot as a pest at some trout hatcheries.
Birdwatching
Ask Aves Birding
Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a tour for you or book on one of the
following Aves Birding Tour/Safaris/Adventures scheduled tours to see
these large kingfishers: -
Aves Eastern Cape Birding
Tour / Safari /Adventure.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari /
Adventure.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari /
Adventure.
Aves North East Birding Tour /
Safari / Adventure.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari /
Adventure.
Aves Western Cape Birding
Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves West Coast Birding Tour /
Safari / Adventure.
Photographed by Peter
Sievers
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