# Giant kingfisher (*Megaceryle maxima*) The Giant Kingfisher is a big, colorful bird that loves to fish! With its striking black and white feathers, it can often be seen near rivers and lakes, diving into the water to catch its meals. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Giant kingfisher](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Flickr_-_Rainbirder_-_Giant_Kingfisher_%28Megaceryle_maxima%29_male_%28cropped%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flickr_-_Rainbirder_-_Giant_Kingfisher_%28Megaceryle_maxima%29_male_%28cropped%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Giant kingfisher is a very large, dark grey bird with striking white spots and a prominent, shaggy crest. Its underparts are rufous, with a white throat patch. Females have a rufous breast band, while males have a grey one, making them unique among kingfishers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Coraciiformes - **Family:** Alcedinidae - **Genus:** Megaceryle ## Interesting facts - Female Giant kingfishers are more brightly colored than males! - Giant kingfishers are very shy, making them tricky to spot. - It's the largest kingfisher in all of Africa! - They dig long, deep tunnel nests into riverbanks. ## Special abilities - **Underwater Vision:** Giant kingfisher has incredible eyesight that helps them spot tiny fish deep underwater even from above the surface. - **Precision Dive:** Giant kingfisher can plunge headfirst into water from great heights to catch slippery prey with amazing accuracy. - **Strong Beak:** Giant kingfisher has a powerful, dagger-like bill that helps them grip and subdue large, struggling fish and crustaceans. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 42-46 cm - **Wingspan:** 60-70 cm - **Weight:** 0.25-0.425 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 25-27 days ## Diet & Feeding This big bird is a master diver, catching fish, crabs, and frogs in rivers. - **Primary Foods:** Fish, Crabs, Frogs, Aquatic insects, Crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Nile Tilapia (*Oreochromis niloticus*) — A common fish prey in its habitat. - **Hunts:** River Crab (*Potamonautes perlatus*) — Eats crabs found in river systems. - **Hunts:** African Clawed Frog (*Xenopus laevis*) — Preys on frogs found near water. - **Eaten by:** Nile Crocodile (*Crocodylus niloticus*) — Can prey on kingfishers near water. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Giant kingfisher? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Giant kingfisher? 42-46 cm ### What is Giant kingfisher's wingspan? 60-70 cm ### How much does Giant kingfisher weigh? 0.25-0.425 kg ### How long does Giant kingfisher live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Giant kingfisher move? 35 km/h ### What does Giant kingfisher eat? This big bird is a master diver, catching fish, crabs, and frogs in rivers. ### Where is Giant kingfisher usually found? Wetlands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Giant kingfisher: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/giant-kingfisher)