Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)

 

The Alcedinidae contains three subfamilies, 19 genera and 114 species. Kingfishers are distributed nearly worldwide, with the greatest diversity in the sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia, and the West Pacific. They are found near lakes, rivers and swamps in forests, woodlands, and savannas; some occur in oceanic atolls. These are small to medium-sized birds (10-45 cm in length, weighing 10-500 g) with large heads, long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs and tails. The plumage is often bright, bright green and blue, although some species are brown or gray. They nest in burrows excavated in river banks or road cuts, or arboreal termitaria; also in tree holes. The eggs are white and glossy, usually 3-6 per clutch. Incubation 14-28 days. The young are altricial, and fledge 3-8 weeks after hatching. Kingfishers feed on a wide variety of prey including fish, crustaceans, insects, tadpoles, frogs, small reptiles and rodents. They hunt from an exposed perch or hover, diving into water or snatching the prey from land.

 

		species
		Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata)
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