Giant Kingfisher
Megaceryle maxima
The Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima) is a uncommon kingfisher found in 38 countries, weighing about 325 g. The giant kingfisher is the largest kingfisher in Africa, where it is a resident breeding bird over most of the continent south of the Sahara Desert, other than the arid southwest.
About the Giant Kingfisher
The giant kingfisher is the largest kingfisher in Africa, where it is a resident breeding bird over most of the continent south of the Sahara Desert, other than the arid southwest.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The giant kingfisher is 42–46 cm (16.5–18 in) long, with a large shaggy crest, a large black bill and fine white spots on black upperparts. The male has a chestnut breast band and otherwise white underparts with dark flank barring. The female has a white-spotted black breast band and a chestnut belly. The forest race M. m. gigantea is darker, less spotted above, and more barred below than the nominate race, but the two forms intergrade along the forest edge zone. The call is a loud wak wak wak.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Giant Kingfisher can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Giant Kingfisher?
- The giant kingfisher is 42–46 cm (16.5–18 in) long, with a large shaggy crest, a large black bill and fine white spots on black upperparts. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Giant Kingfisher?
- The Giant Kingfisher is a large sized bird weighing about 325 g.
- Where can you see a Giant Kingfisher?
- The Giant Kingfisher occurs in 38 countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia.
- What birds look similar to a Giant Kingfisher?
- The Giant Kingfisher is most easily confused with the Crested Kingfisher, the Ringed Kingfisher and the Belted Kingfisher.
- Is the Giant Kingfisher endangered?
- The Giant Kingfisher is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Giant Kingfisher for real
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