Beautiful with a gem-like back and blue coloring, these South African birds are excellent fish hunters. Closely related to the Malagasy kingfisher, malachite kingfishers often sit on perches with their body pointed downwards.

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This bird drops suddenly to catch their prey from the water. They are also called the river kingfisher because of their habit of preferring aquatic vegetation near rivers or other water bodies as their habitat. They are monogamous and are known to form long-lasting bonds. The breeding season mostly depends on whenever there is a high fish availability. About three to six eggs are laid and both parents are responsible for taking care of the young. The scientific names of the malachite kingfisher, Alcedo cristata and Corythornis cristatus, imply them having a short crest on their head. There are many interesting facts about these birds and we have gathered them all here. Please read on to learn more.

Malachite Kingfisher Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a malachite kingfisher?

Malachite kingfishers are a type of river kingfishers that are native to the southern region of the Sahara Desert in Africa. The scientific name of the malachite kingfisher, Corythornis refers to them having a short crest or plume of feathers on their head.

How many malachite kingfisher are there in the world?

It is hard to say just how many of these birds are there in Sub Saharan Africa, however, they are listed as a species of Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It can be assumed that malachite kingfishers are not under any immediate threat of extinction.

What is a malachite kingfisher's habitat?

This African bird prefers wet places as its habitat, which is why they nest around aquatic vegetation, swamps, lakes, ponds, marshes, dams, mangrove forests, drainage ditches, and sometimes even on a sandy bank. They spend most of their time sitting on a perch over water bodies to look for prey. After catching their prey, they return to their perch once again.

How do they reproduce?

The malachite kingfisher is known to be monogamous and they make long-lasting bonds. The breeding season varies from range to range but generally occurs when the fish are highly available. Courtship displays often occur in these kingfishers and usually consist of aerial chases and mating calls. Both adults are responsible for digging out a few nests but usually, only one is completed and used. About three to six eggs are laid, with a one-day gap and both parents incubate the eggs which lasts for about 14-16 days. The chicks are born vulnerable and blind and fledging happens at about 22-25 days. They can hunt for prey on their own a week after fledging. Adult birds excavate the young from the nest at about 36-40 days when they are fully independent.

What is their conservation status?

The malachite kingfisher, just like the belted kingfisher, is listed as a species of Least Concern in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It can be assumed that there is no immediate threat of extinction looming over this small kingfisher bird.

What do malachite kingfishers look like?

Malachite kingfishers are a small bird species with beautiful gem-like colors. The upper side of their body has a vibrant blue plumage, with the underside being a reddish-orange. There is a short crest on their black and blue-colored head and there are white patches on the throat as well as on their neck sides. Both males and females look similar, as do the young, down to the white patches on the throat. However, the coloring of the young is a bit duller than the adults.

How do they communicate?

Like all birds, the African kingfisher malachite communicates through their unique calls and body gestures. During the breeding season, they use these calls and aerial displays to attract potential mates.

How big is a malachite kingfisher?

The malachite kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus) is a small bird, only growing up to about 3.4-5.1 in (10-13 cm) in length as adults. They are about the same size as their closely related species, the Malagasy kingfisher which is also 3.4-5.1 in (10-13 cm) long.

How fast can a malachite kingfisher fly?

For a small bird, the kingfisher malachite can fly quite fast. Their top speed is about 25 mph (40 kph).

How much does a malachite kingfisher weigh?

The malachite kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus) is a small bird and they are relatively light in terms of weight. On average, they only weigh about 0.02-0.04 lb (12-19 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

The malachite kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus) has no gender-specific names. They are just called a male malachite kingfisher or a female malachite kingfisher. Alcedo cristata is another scientific name for them.

What do they eat?

This malachite kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus) bird from South Africa is carnivorous. It often sits on a perch close to the water with its body pointed downwards and  drops suddenly to the water surface to catch fish, insects, crabs, frogs, prawns as well as insect larvae. If the prey is big, it would beat it on a branch first before swallowing it whole. This bird is always found around rivers, moving water, or ponds around South Africa, earning them the name of river kingfishers.

Are they dangerous?

The malachite kingfisher is a small bird. These fish hunters possess no danger to you even if they become aggressive.

How many eggs do malachite kingfisher lay?

The malachite kingfisher (Alcedo cristata) is a small bird, only growing about 3.4-5.1 in (10-13 cm) in length, and they lay about three to six eggs on average.

 

Source: https://kidadl.com/animal-facts/malachite-kingfisher-facts