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Alcedininae
The river kingfishers or pygmy kingfishers, subfamily Alcedininae, are one of the three subfamilies of kingfishers. The river kingfishers are widespread through Africa and east and south Asia as far as Australia, with one species, the common kingfisher (''Alcedo atthis'') also appearing in Europe and northern Asia. This group includes many kingfishers that actually dive for fish. The origin of the subfamily is thought to have been in Asia. These are brightly plumaged, compact birds with short tails, large heads, and long bills. They feed on insects or fish, and lay white eggs in a self-excavated burrow. Both adults incubate the eggs and feed the chicks. Taxonomy A molecular phylogenetic study of the river kingfishers published in 2007 found that the genera as then defined did not form monophyletic groups. The species were subsequently rearranged into four monophyletic genera. A clade containing four species were placed in the resurrected genus ''Corythornis'' and five species ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a family, the Alcedinidae, of small to medium-sized, brightly colored birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species found in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Oceania, but also can be seen in Europe. They can be found in deep forests near calm ponds and small rivers. The family contains 114 species and is divided into three subfamilies and 19 genera. All kingfishers have large heads, long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. Most species have bright plumage with only small differences between the sexes. Most species are tropical in distribution, and a slight majority are found only in forests. They consume a wide range of prey usually caught by swooping down from a perch. While kingfishers are usually thought to live near rivers and eat fish, many species live away from water and eat small invertebrates. Like other members of their order, they nest in cavities, usually tunnels dug into ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Corythornis
''Corythornis'' is a genus of small African river kingfishers. A molecular phylogenetic study of the alcedinine kingfishers published in 2007 found that the genera as then defined did not form monophyletic groups. The species were subsequently rearranged into four genera, with four species in the resurrected genus ''Corythornis''. The genus had been introduced by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup in 1848. The type species is the Príncipe kingfisher (''Alcedo cristatus nais''). ''Corythornis'' is the sister group In phylogenetics, a sister group or sister taxon, also called an adelphotaxon, comprises the closest relative(s) of another given unit in an evolutionary tree. Definition The expression is most easily illustrated by a cladogram: Taxon A and t ... to the genus '' Ispidina'' containing two small African kingfishers. Species The genus contains the following four species: References Further reading * {{Taxonbar, from=Q2399191 Alcedininae Bird g ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alcedo
''Alcedo'' is a genus of birds in the kingfisher subfamily Alcedininae. The genus was introduced by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the 10th edition of his ''Systema Naturae''. The type species is the common kingfisher (''Alcedo ispida'', now ''Alcedo atthis ispida''). ''Alcedo'' is the Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ... for "kingfisher". Species The genus contains the following seven species: Unlike many kingfishers, all members of ''Alcedo'' are specialist fish-eaters. They all have some blue feathers on their upper-parts and most species have a black bill. Except for the cerulean kingfisher they all have some rufous in their plumage. The female generally has more red on the lower mandible than the male. The smallest species is the cerulean kingfisher which is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ceyx (kingfisher)
''Ceyx'' is an Old World genus of river kingfishers. These kingfishers are found from South East Asia to the Solomon Islands. The genus was introduced by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1799, and derives its name from the Greek myth of Alcyone and Ceyx. The type species is the oriental dwarf kingfisher (''Ceyx erithaca''). A molecular phylogenetic study of the alcedinine kingfishers published in 2007 found that the genera as then defined did not form monophyletic groups. The species were subsequently rearranged into four monophyletic genera. The little kingfisher, azure kingfisher, Bismarck kingfisher, silvery kingfisher and Indigo-banded kingfisher were moved from ''Alcedo'' to ''Ceyx''. All except one of the birds in the reconstituted genus have three rather than the usual four toes. The exception is the Sulawesi dwarf kingfisher which retains a vestigial fourth toe. The Moluccan dwarf kingfisher (''Ceyx lepidus'') was previous named the variable d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ceyx (bird)
''Ceyx'' is an Old World genus of river kingfishers. These kingfishers are found from South East Asia to the Solomon Islands. The genus was introduced by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1799, and derives its name from the Greek myth of Alcyone and Ceyx. The type species is the oriental dwarf kingfisher (''Ceyx erithaca''). A molecular phylogenetic study of the alcedinine kingfishers published in 2007 found that the genera as then defined did not form monophyletic groups. The species were subsequently rearranged into four monophyletic genera. The little kingfisher, azure kingfisher, Bismarck kingfisher, silvery kingfisher and Indigo-banded kingfisher were moved from ''Alcedo'' to ''Ceyx''. All except one of the birds in the reconstituted genus have three rather than the usual four toes. The exception is the Sulawesi dwarf kingfisher which retains a vestigial fourth toe. The Moluccan dwarf kingfisher (''Ceyx lepidus'') was previous named the variable d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Common Kingfisher
The common kingfisher (''Alcedo atthis''), also known as the Eurasian kingfisher and river kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter. This sparrow-sized bird has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile; it has blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long bill. It feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaptations to enable it to see prey under water. The glossy white eggs are laid in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank. Taxonomy The common kingfisher was first described by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his ''Systema Naturae'' in 1758 as ''Gracula atthis''. The modern binomial name derives from the Latin ', 'kingfisher' (from Greek , '), and ''Atthis'', a beautiful young woman of Lesbos, and favourite of Sappho. The genus ''Alcedo'' comprises ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Little Kingfisher
The little kingfisher (''Ceyx pusillus'') is a species of kingfisher in the subfamily Alcedininae. Taxonomy The first formal description of the little kingfisher was by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1836 under the current binomial name ''Ceyx pusilla''. The generic name ''Ceyx'' () derives from grc, Κήϋξ, Kēüx, a mythological seabird that was drowned at sea and then found washed ashore by his wife Alcyone, after which both were metamorphosed into kingfishers. The specific epithet ''pusillus'' is the Latin for 'tiny' or 'very small'. There are nine recognised subspecies of the little kingfisher (see box at right). The nominate subspecies ''Ceyx pusillus pusillus'' is found in Aru Island and Kai Island of Indonesia, southern New Guinea, the Torres Strait Islands, and possibly the tip of Cape York in Queensland.Morcombe, Michael (2012) Field Guide to Australian Birds. Pascal Press, Glebe, NSW. Revised edition. The subspecies ''C. p. ramsayi'' is found in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Malachite Kingfisher
The malachite kingfisher (''Corythornis cristatus'') is a river kingfisher which is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara. It is largely resident except for seasonal climate-related movements. Taxonomy The malachite kingfisher was described by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas in 1764 and given the binomial name ''Alcedo cristata''. The specific epithet ''cristata'' is from the Latin ''cristatus'' meaning "crested" or "plumed". The adjective "malachite" in the vernacular name normally refers to the dark green colour of the copper containing mineral. This kingfisher has blue upperparts but has black banding with pale blue or greenish-blue on its forehead. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2007 confirmed that the most closely related species is the Malagasy kingfisher, (''Corythornis vintsioides''). The Malagasy kingfisher has a black bill and greenish crest, and is not quite as dependent on water as the African species. It is otherwise similar in pluma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-bellied Kingfisher
The white-bellied kingfisher (''Corythornis leucogaster'') is a species of kingfisher in the subfamily Alcedininae that occurs in parts of equatorial west Africa. The first formal description of the species was by the British zoologist Louis Fraser in 1843 under the binomial name ''Halcyon leucogaster''. There are three subspecies: * ''C. l. bowdleri'' ( Neumann, 1908) – Guinea to Mali and Ghana * ''C. l. leucogaster'' (Fraser, 1843) – Nigeria to north west Angola, Bioko Island * ''C. l. leopoldi'' ( Dubois, AJC, 1905) – east Congo to south Uganda and northwest Zambia The white-bellied kingfisher is in length with a weight of around . It has ultramarine upperparts and a red bill. The underparts are rufous-chestnut apart from a central white band. The sexes are alike. References white-bellied kingfisher Birds of the African tropical rainforest Birds of the Gulf of Guinea white-bellied kingfisher white-bellied kingfisher The white-bellied kingfisher (''Corythorn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Malachite Kingfisher
The malachite kingfisher (''Corythornis cristatus'') is a river kingfisher which is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara. It is largely resident except for seasonal climate-related movements. Taxonomy The malachite kingfisher was described by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas in 1764 and given the binomial name ''Alcedo cristata''. The specific epithet ''cristata'' is from the Latin ''cristatus'' meaning "crested" or "plumed". The adjective "malachite" in the vernacular name normally refers to the dark green colour of the copper containing mineral. This kingfisher has blue upperparts but has black banding with pale blue or greenish-blue on its forehead. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2007 confirmed that the most closely related species is the Malagasy kingfisher, (''Corythornis vintsioides''). The Malagasy kingfisher has a black bill and greenish crest, and is not quite as dependent on water as the African species. It is otherwise similar in pluma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
African Dwarf Kingfisher
''This article discusses the African dwarf kingfisher, which is distinct from the Oriental dwarf kingfisher.'' The African dwarf kingfisher (''Ispidina lecontei'') is a species of kingfisher in the Alcedininae subfamily. Taxonomy The African dwarf kingfisher was described in 1856 by the American ornithologist John Cassin from a specimen collected by Paul Du Chaillu. Cassin introduced the current binomial name ''Ispidina lecontei''. The specific epithet was chosen in honour of the entomologist John Lawrence LeConte. There are two subspecies: * ''I. l. ruficeps'' Hartlaub, 1857 – Sierra Leone to Ghana, west of the Dahomey gap in the rainforest. * ''I. l. lecontei'' Cassin, 1856 – south Nigeria to west South Sudan, Uganda and central Democratic Republic of the Congo; central Angola. Description This is the world's smallest kingfisher with a length of and a weight of . Distribution It inhabits African rainforests and is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, R ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Azure Kingfisher
The azure kingfisher (''Ceyx azureus'') is a small kingfisher in the river kingfisher subfamily, Alcedininae.Pizzey, Graham and Doyle, Roy. (1980) ''A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia.'' Collins Publishers, Sydney. Description The azure kingfisher measures in length, and the male weighs while the female is slightly heavier at . It is a very colourful bird, with deep blue to azure back, a large white to buff spot on the side of the neck and throat, rufous-buff with some blue-violet streaks on the breast and flanks. The feet are red with only two forward toes. The lores (the region between the eye and the bill) are white and inconspicuous except in front view, where they stand out as two large white eye-like spots which may have a role in warding off potential predators. Taxonomy The subspecies (see box at right) differ only in minor details: compared with the nominate subspecies ''Ceyx azureus azureus'', ''C. a. ruficollaris'' is smaller, brighter, and has more blue on t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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