Malachite Kingfisher
Corythornis cristatus
Malachite Kingfisher hunts small fish in African freshwater lakes and rivers.
| Scientific name | Corythornis cristatus |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Msumari wa samaki wa malachite |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Coraciiformes |
| Family | Alcedinidae |
| Size | Male: body length approximately 13-14 cm, weight about 10-15 g; female: similar length, slightly lighter weight |
How to identify
Plumage bright blue-green with metallic sheen; crown and back blue-green; chest orange-red; bill slender and red; tail short and blue
Habitat
Freshwater lakes, rivers, swamps, and surrounding bushes and reed beds
Diet
Carnivorous, primarily feeding on small fish, small shrimp, and aquatic insects
When it is active
Diurnal, mainly active during the day
Where it lives
Widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya and the Masai Mara region
How to spot it
Look near waterside bushes at dawn or dusk, watch for its rapid diving hunting behavior
Photography tips
Use a telephoto lens to capture hunting moments, choose times with soft lighting, background ideally water surface and green vegetation
Threats
Habitat destruction and water pollution
Similar species
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), the Malachite Kingfisher is smaller, more brightly colored, with a differently colored bill
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