Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata)

May 5, 2010 | Posted by Safari Guide

Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata) by Arno & Louise

Of all African kingfishers the most beautiful is the brilliantly-coloured and aptly named Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata). This tiny, agile bird is widely distributed throughout southern Africa on streams, lakes and even small pools where it stands out like a small blue jewel in the surrounding vegetation.

You wil often see many species of kingfisher including the Malachite bobbing their head up and down and side to side, I have heard this is to judge the depth of potential prey under the surface of the water as the light behaves differently as it penetrates the denser medium.

The bill is black in young Malachite Kingfisher’s and reddish orange in adults and their legs are bright red. There is only a small amount of sexual dimorphism (Sexes are similar), but juveniles are a duller version of the adult. Their call is a short shrill ‘seek’, whilst the breeding song is a chuckling li-cha-cha-chui-chui.

Nesting & Breeding
The Malachite Kingfisher breeds from August to November and nests in burrows which it excavates in the vertical bank of a stream or river. The tunnel, often up to a meter in length, may also be used for two or more consecutive seasons, and opens up into a chamber where the glossy white eggs are laid.

The litter of fish-bones and insect remains found on the foor of the chamber were once believed to constitute the kingfisher’s nest and the British museum was preppaired to pay the handsome reward of £100 for an intact specimen! Actually these birds do not build nests but lay their eggs on the bare earth. Te debris which surrounds them is merely the regurgitated remains of indigestible food. Most birds remove faeces from the nest; however, in the case of burrow-nesting species this is not so easily done and represents a waste of precious energy in a bird that must work hard to find its food. The kingfisher’s chicks cope with this by defecating in particular spots in the burrow so that the nest is not itself fouled but, by the time they are od enough to emerge from the tunnel, it is – needless to say – evil-smelling!

Feeding
To feed, it perches close to the water, often on a reed stem, from which it will dive for small fish, tadpoles, beetles and other insects. On the wing it is a glorious sight, moving with lightning rapidity, darting off when disturbed over the water surface.

Large items of food are beaten on a branch or rail to either stun or kill the victim, whilst small fish and insects are swallowed immediately. 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.

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