Malachite Kingfisher
Corythornis cristatus
The Malachite Kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus) is a uncommon kingfisher found in 43 countries, weighing about 16 g. The malachite kingfisher is a river kingfisher which is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara.
About the Malachite Kingfisher
The malachite kingfisher is a river kingfisher which is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara. It is largely resident except for seasonal climate-related movements.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
It is a small kingfisher, around 13 cm (5.1 in) in length. In Southern Africa, the reference size is 14cm and in East Africa and Ethiopia, 12cm. The general color of the upper parts of the adult bird is bright metallic blue. The head has a short crest of black and blue feathers, which gives rise to the scientific name. The face, cheeks, and underparts are rufous and there are white patches on the throat and rear neck sides. The bill is black in young birds and reddish-orange in adults; the legs are bright red. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are a duller version of the adult.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Malachite 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 Malachite Kingfisher?
- It is a small kingfisher, around 13 cm (5.1 in) in length. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Malachite Kingfisher?
- The Malachite Kingfisher is a small sized bird weighing about 16 g.
- Where can you see a Malachite Kingfisher?
- The Malachite Kingfisher occurs in 43 countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana and Tanzania.
- What birds look similar to a Malachite Kingfisher?
- The Malachite Kingfisher is most easily confused with the Malagasy Kingfisher, the Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher and the White-bellied Kingfisher.
Learn the Malachite Kingfisher for real
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