Malachite Kingfisher. (Medium - 13 X 25 Cms/ 5

Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata) is a small bird, 13 cm in length. The general colour 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. The flight of the Malachite Kingfisher is rapid, the short rounded wings whirring until they appear a mere blur. It usually flies low over water.

Widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara - a common species of reeds and rank vegetation near slow moving water or ponds, the Malachite Kingfisher has regular perches or stands from which it fishes which are usually low over the water. It sits upright, its tail pointed downwards. It drops suddenly with a splash and normally returns at once with a struggling captive. They feed on fish, frogs, aquatic insects, crabs and tadpoles.

The Malachite Kingfisher breeds from August to November. The nest is a tunnel in a sandy bank, usually, though not always, over water. Both birds excavate. Most burrows incline upward before the nesting chamber is reached.