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Megaceryle
''Megaceryle'' is a genus of very large kingfishers. They have a wide distribution in the Americas, Africa and southeast Asia. The genus was erected by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup in 1848. The type species is a subspecies of the crested kingfisher, ''Megaceryle lugubris guttulata''. ''Megaceryle'' is from the Ancient Greek ''megas'', "great", and the existing genus '' Ceryle''. Species The genus comprises four species: All are specialist fish-eaters with prominent stiff crests on their heads. They have dark grey or bluish-grey upperparts, largely unmarked in the two American species, but heavily spotted with white in the Asian crested kingfisher and the African giant kingfisher. The underparts may be white or rufous, and all forms have a contrasting breast band except male ringed kingfisher. The underpart pattern is always different for the two sexes of each species. These birds nest in horizontal tunnels made in a river bank or sand bank. Both parents excavate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Megaceryle Alcyon Femelle
''Megaceryle'' is a genus of very large kingfishers. They have a wide distribution in the Americas, Africa and southeast Asia. The genus was erected by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup in 1848. The type species is a subspecies of the crested kingfisher, ''Megaceryle lugubris guttulata''. ''Megaceryle'' is from the Ancient Greek ''megas'', "great", and the existing genus '' Ceryle''. Species The genus comprises four species: All are specialist fish-eaters with prominent stiff crests on their heads. They have dark grey or bluish-grey upperparts, largely unmarked in the two American species, but heavily spotted with white in the Asian crested kingfisher and the African giant kingfisher. The underparts may be white or rufous, and all forms have a contrasting breast band except male ringed kingfisher. The underpart pattern is always different for the two sexes of each species. These birds nest in horizontal tunnels made in a river bank or sand bank. Both parents excavate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belted Kingfisher
The belted kingfisher (''Megaceryle alcyon'') is a large, conspicuous water kingfisher, native to North America. All kingfishers were formerly placed in one family, Alcedinidae, but recent research suggests that this should be divided into three subfamilies. Taxonomy The first formal description of the belted kingfisher was by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his '' Systema Naturae''. He introduced the binomial name ''Alcedo alcyon''. The current genus ''Megaceryle'' was erected by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup in 1848. ''Megaceryle'' is from the Ancient Greek ''megas'', "great", and the existing genus '' Ceryle''. The specific ''alcyon'' is Latin for "kingfisher". The ''Megaceryle'' large green kingfishers were formerly placed in ''Ceryle'' with the pied kingfisher, but the latter is closer to the ''Chloroceryle'' American green kingfishers. The belted kingfisher's closest living relative is the ringed kingfisher (''M. torqua ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ringed Kingfisher
The ringed kingfisher (''Megaceryle torquata'') is a large, conspicuous and noisy kingfisher bird commonly found along the lower Rio Grande valley in southeasternmost Texas in the United States through Central America to Tierra del Fuego in South America. Description The ringed kingfisher (''Megaceryle torquata'') is a Neotropical kingfisher that lives in habitats ranging between the US and Mexico. In 1888, the species was first discovered in the US, while the first ringed kingfisher nest was found in 1970. They are commonly seen along the Rio Grande and in water bodies in southern Texas. Their distribution is increasing and expanding upwards. Measurement The wings of adult males range between , which on average measures . Their tail range between , and the bill measures . Female wings range 185.0-210.1 mm, as the tail measures and possess a bill measuring . Individuals can weigh between . Such measurements prove that the species do not differ sexually in terms of si ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Belted Kingfisher
The belted kingfisher (''Megaceryle alcyon'') is a large, conspicuous water kingfisher, native to North America. All kingfishers were formerly placed in one family, Alcedinidae, but recent research suggests that this should be divided into three subfamilies. Taxonomy The first formal description of the belted kingfisher was by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his '' Systema Naturae''. He introduced the binomial name ''Alcedo alcyon''. The current genus ''Megaceryle'' was erected by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup in 1848. ''Megaceryle'' is from the Ancient Greek ''megas'', "great", and the existing genus '' Ceryle''. The specific ''alcyon'' is Latin for "kingfisher". The ''Megaceryle'' large green kingfishers were formerly placed in ''Ceryle'' with the pied kingfisher, but the latter is closer to the ''Chloroceryle'' American green kingfishers. The belted kingfisher's closest living relative is the ringed kingfisher (''M. torqua ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ringed Kingfisher
The ringed kingfisher (''Megaceryle torquata'') is a large, conspicuous and noisy kingfisher bird commonly found along the lower Rio Grande valley in southeasternmost Texas in the United States through Central America to Tierra del Fuego in South America. Description The ringed kingfisher (''Megaceryle torquata'') is a Neotropical kingfisher that lives in habitats ranging between the US and Mexico. In 1888, the species was first discovered in the US, while the first ringed kingfisher nest was found in 1970. They are commonly seen along the Rio Grande and in water bodies in southern Texas. Their distribution is increasing and expanding upwards. Measurement The wings of adult males range between , which on average measures . Their tail range between , and the bill measures . Female wings range 185.0-210.1 mm, as the tail measures and possess a bill measuring . Individuals can weigh between . Such measurements prove that the species do not differ sexually in terms of si ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Giant Kingfisher
The giant kingfisher (''Megaceryle maxima'') 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. Taxonomy The first Species description, formal description of the giant kingfisher was by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas in 1769 under the binomial name ''Alcedo maxima''. The current genus ''Megaceryle'' was erected by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup in 1848. There are two subspecies: * ''M. m. maxima'' (Pallas, 1769) – Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia and south to South Africa * ''M. m. gigantea'' (William John Swainson, Swainson, 1837) – Liberia to northern Angola and western Tanzania, island of Bioko The nominate subspecies ''M. m. maxima'' occurs in wooded savanna while ''M. m. gigantea'' prefers tropical rainforest. Description The giant kingfisher is long, with a large shaggy crest, a large black bill and fine white spots on black upperparts. The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Giant Kingfisher
The giant kingfisher (''Megaceryle maxima'') 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. Taxonomy The first Species description, formal description of the giant kingfisher was by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas in 1769 under the binomial name ''Alcedo maxima''. The current genus ''Megaceryle'' was erected by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup in 1848. There are two subspecies: * ''M. m. maxima'' (Pallas, 1769) – Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia and south to South Africa * ''M. m. gigantea'' (William John Swainson, Swainson, 1837) – Liberia to northern Angola and western Tanzania, island of Bioko The nominate subspecies ''M. m. maxima'' occurs in wooded savanna while ''M. m. gigantea'' prefers tropical rainforest. Description The giant kingfisher is long, with a large shaggy crest, a large black bill and fine white spots on black upperparts. The ... [...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] |
Pied Kingfisher
The pied kingfisher (''Ceryle rudis'') is a species of water kingfisher widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, it has five recognised subspecies. Its black and white plumage and crest, as well as its habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish, make it distinctive. Males have a double band across the breast, while females have a single gorget that is often broken in the middle. They are usually found in pairs or small family groups. When perched, they often bob their head and flick up their tail. Taxonomy and evolution The pied kingfisher was one of the many bird species originally described by Linnaeus in the landmark 1758 10th edition of his ''Systema Naturae'', who noted that it lived in Persia and Egypt. He named it ''Alcedo rudis''. The German naturalist Friedrich Boie erected the genus ''Ceryle'' in 1828. The name is from classical Greek ''kērulos'', an unidentified and probably mythical bird men ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American Green Kingfisher
The American green kingfishers are the kingfisher genus ''Chloroceryle'', which are native to tropical Central and South America, with one species extending north to south Texas. Species There are four species: The American green kingfishers breed by streams in forests or mangroves, nesting in a long horizontal tunnel made in a river bank. They have the typical kingfisher shape, with a short tail and long bill. All are plumaged oily green above, and the underpart colour shows an interesting pattern insofar as the smallest and second largest, American pygmy kingfisher and green-and-rufous kingfisher, have rufous underparts, whereas the largest and second smallest, Amazon kingfisher and green kingfisher, have white underparts with only the males also having a rufous breast band. These birds take crustaceans and fish caught by the usual kingfisher technique of a dive from a perch or brief hover, although the American pygmy kingfisher will hawk at insects in flight. Evolutionary ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
_male_3.jpg "Click for more on -> American Green Kingfisher")