The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa
Giant Kingfisher
Afrikaans name: Reuse Visvanger
Giant Kingfisher
Photo © Steven Herbert
Ceryle maxima
The Giant Kingfisher is common in South Africa. It can be found over most of the country, other than the arid western regions. Any water habitat suits this species including seashores, estuaries, sewage ponds and freshwater rivers, dams and lakes.
It has a powerful bill which is designed to help it eat its favourite food of crabs. It also catches fish and has been recorded catch fish nearly 18 cm in length. Frogs are also on the menu.
The male and female are fairly similar in looks but there is an easy way to separate them. The male has the brown patch on its chest higher up than the female. It is said that his brown is a waistcoat and her brown is an apron.
The Giant Kingfisher doesn't mess around when it comes to breeding. It excavates a tunnel in a sandbank and these entrance tunnels can be between 1 and 8 metres long! Between 3 and 5 eggs are laid and are tended to by both parents.
References and further reading
Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 124Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 55
The Coastal Guide of South Africa - Author: Jacana Media - Published: 2007 - Page: 98
The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 161
Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 145
Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 31
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 256
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 370
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 248
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 283
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 374
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 270
Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southe - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Published: 1991 - Page: 411
Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 248
Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 248
Newmans Garden Birds - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1991 - Page: 54
Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 176
Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 43
Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 122
Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 142
Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 46
Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 134
Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 75
Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 55
Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 126
Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 159
Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 90
A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 98
A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 98
A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 172