Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima) - HBW 6, p. 247
French: Martin-pêcheur géant
German: Riesenfischer
Spanish: Martín Gigante Africano
Other common names: African Giant/Alucan Giant Kingfisher
Taxonomy: Alcedo maxima Pallas, 1769, Cape of Good Hope.
Genus sometimes merged into Ceryle. Forms a superspecies with M. lugubris, M. torquata and M. alcyon. Validity of race gigantea has been questioned, since light and dark forms have been found together in Liberia and both the Upper and Lower Guinea forests; further investigation required. Two subspecies tentatively recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- maxima (Pallas, 1769) - open areas from Senegambia E to W Ethiopia and S to S Angola, N Botswana, and South Africa, mainly in E half, S to Cape Town and SW, and also Orange R.
- gigantea (Swainson, 1837) - forest from Liberia to N Nigeria, then E to W Tanzania and S to N Angola.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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Close up of a male on the bridge at Lower Sabie Locality Kruger National Park, South Africa
Ghislain Gosse 22 October 2009 1 year ago 34 sec 4.4 -
A dorsal view of a bird waiting to fish Locality Abuko Nature Reserve, Abuko, Western Division, The Gambia (ssp maxima)
Eldert Groenewoud 24 October 2005 4 years ago 8 sec 4.2 -
A young male perched, looking down and scratching once Locality Chobe National Park, North-West District, Botswana (ssp maxima)
Alex García · Videoaves 27 December 2007 3 years ago 19 sec 3.9 -
A female perched on a branch Locality Mzima Springs, Kenya (ssp maxima)
Jean Hupperetz 30 November 2003 7 years ago 26 sec 3.7 -
Kingfisher with a dinner Locality The Gambia
kblach 20 January 2009 2 years ago 29 sec 3.7 -
A male perched on a telephone wire Locality Kruger National Park, South Africa (ssp maxima)
Francesc Capdevila i Torr... 2 October 2002 7 years ago 17 sec 3.7
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A headshot of a male bird.
Locality Abuko Nature Reserve, Abuko, Western Division, The Gambia (ssp maxima)
Steve Garvie 14 March 2005 1 year ago 4.5 -
Part of a couple fishing on the river bank
Locality Lower Zambezi National Park, Lusaka Province, Zambia
Marco Valentini 27 August 2011 21 weeks ago 4.5 -
A perched adult male.
Locality Abuko Nature Reserve, Abuko, Western Division, The Gambia (ssp maxima)
Steve Garvie 14 March 2005 1 year ago 4.2 -
A female on a branch
Locality Shaba National Reserve, Kenya
Jean Hupperetz 29 November 2008 2 years ago 4.1 -
A perching bird
Locality Borakalalo National Park, North West Province, South Africa
Tadeusz Stawarczyk 11 April 2011 7 weeks ago 4 -
Portrait above the river
Locality Kruger National Park, South Africa
Libor Vaicenbacher 10 October 2011 4 hours ago ADDED TODAY! 3.8
- No sound recordings available yet
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