Alcedinidae

Megaceryle maxima Photo by Steve Garvie (Flickr) Common name:giant kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-gigante (pt); martin-pêcheur géant (fr); martín gigante africano (es); riesenfischer (de)Taxonomy:Order CoraciiformesFamily AlcedinidaeRange:These birds are found throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of the arid areas of Namibia, Botswana and north-western South Africa, and northern Kenya, eastern Ethiopia and Somalia.Size:The giant kingfisher…

Actenoides concretus Photo by Sombat Kongwithtaya (Internet Bird Collection) Common name:rufous-collared kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-de-coleira-ruiva (pt); martin-chasseur trapu (fr); alción malayo (es); Malaienliest (de)Taxonomy:Order CoraciiformesFamily AlcedinidaeRange:This species is found from extreme southern Myanmar and Thailand, across the Malay Peninsula, and into Borneo, Sumatra and adjacent islands in Indonesia.Size:These birds are 23-24 cm long and weigh 60-90…

Todiramphus sanctus Photo by Chris Wynne (Flickr) Common name:sacred kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-sagrado (pt); martin-chasseur sacré (fr); alción sagrado (es); götzenliest (de)Taxonomy:Order CoraciiformesFamily AlcedinidaeRange:This species breeds throughout most of mainland Australia, as well as in New Zealand and in western Melanesia as fas east as Fiji. The populations in southern Australia migrate north to winter in…

Alcedo semitorquata Photo by Warwick Tarboton (Warwick Tarboton) Common name:half-collared kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-de-colar (pt); martin-pêcheur à demi-collier (fr); martín pescador cobalto (es); kobalteisvogel (de)Taxonomy:Order CoraciiformesFamily Alcedinidae Range:This species is patchily distributed in East Africa, from Ethiopia to South Africa, and also through Zambia and southern D.R. Congo into Angola.Size:These birds are 18 cm long and…

Ceyx erithaca Photo by Peter Ericsson (Lee’s Birdwatching Adventures) Common name:black-backed kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-anão-oriental (pt); martin-pêcheur pourpré (fr); martín pescador enano oriental (de); dschungelfischer (de) Taxonomy:Order CoraciiformesFamily AlcedinidaeRange:This species is found across much of south-east Asia, from India to Indonesia.Size:These tiny kingfishers are 12-13 cm long and weigh 14 g.Habitat:The black-backed kingfisher is found in…

Halcyon malimbica Photo by Manu Romero (MRP Animales) Common name:blue-breasted kingfisher (en); guarda-rios-de-peito-azul (pt); martin-chasseur à poitrine bleue (fr); alción pechiazul (es); zügelliest (de)Taxonomy:Order CoraciiformesFamily AlcedinidaeRange:This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Uganda and Tanzania, northern D.R. Congo and northern Angola.Size:These birds are 20-30 cm long and weigh 65-95 g.Habitat:The blue-breasted kingfisher…

Dacelo novaeguineae Photo by Richard Taylor (Wikipedia) Common name:laughing kookaburra (en);  cucaburra-comum (pt); martin-chasseur géant (fr); cucaburra común (es); jägerliest (de)Taxonomy:Order CoraciiformesFamily AlcedinidaeRange:These birds are found in eastern and southern Australia and have recently been introduced to Tasmania, south-western Australia and New Zealand.Size:Laughing kookaburras are 40-45 cm long and have a wingspan of 56-66 cm….