River kingfishers
Encyclopedia
The river kingfishers or Alcedinidae, are one of the three families
of bird
in the kingfisher
group. The Alcedinidae once included all kingfishers, before the widespread recognition of Halcyonidae
(tree-kingfishers) and Cerylidae
(water-kingfishers). The family is widespread through Africa
, through east and south Asia
as far as Australia
, with one species, the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) also appearing in Europe
and northern Asia. The origin of the family is thought to have been in Asia.
These are brightly plumaged compact birds with short tails, large heads and long bills
. They feed on insect
s or fish
, and lay white eggs in a self-excavated burrow
. Both adults incubate the egg
s and feed the chicks.
, which also includes the motmot
s, bee-eater
s, todies
, roller
s, ground-roller
s, Cuckoo Roller and two other families of kingfisher
s. The rollers do not appear to be particularly closely related to the others groups, and the Coraciiformes are therefore probably polyphyletic
. In the past, all kingfishers were placed in the Alcedinidae, but it became clear that the three subfamilies diverged early, and the Halcyonidae (tree kingfisher|tree kingfishers) and Cerylidae (water kingfishers) are usually now treated as full families, with the Alcedinidae as the basal lineage in the kingfisher clade.
The taxonomy of the family is uncertain at present: it includes 22 to 24 species in two to four genera. The uncertainty arises from two small African species. The African Dwarf Kingfisher is sometimes placed in the monospecific genus Myioceyx, and sometimes with the Pygmy Kingfishers in Ispidina
. However, molecular analysis
suggests that the Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher
is most closely related to the Malachite Kingfisher
, and that the present arrangement into Alcedo and Ceyx may need to be reviewed as it seems not to reflect the actual relationships (for example, the Azure Kingfisher
is closer to Ceyx erithacus).
All kingfishers are short-tailed large-headed compact birds with long pointed bills. Like other Coraciiformes, they are brightly coloured. Alcedo species typically have metallic blue upperparts and head, and orange or white underparts. The sexes may be identical, as with Bismarck Kingfisher
, but most species show some sexual dimorphism
, ranging from a different bill colour as with Common Kingfisher to a completely different appearance. The male Blue-banded Kingfisher
has white underparts with a blue breast band, whereas the female has orange underparts.
The small kingfishers that make up the rest of the family have blue or orange upperparts and white or buff underparts, and show little sexual variation. Across the family, the bill colour is linked to diet. The insectivorous species have red bills, and the fish-eaters have black bills.
When perched, kingfishers sit quite upright, and the flight is fast and direct. The call is typically a simple high-pitched squeak, often given in flight.
Most alcedinids are found in the warm climates of Africa and southern and southeast Asia. Three species reach Australia, but only the Common Kingfisher is found across most of Europe and temperate Asia. No members of this family are found in the Americas, although the American green kingfisher
s are believed to have derived from alcedinid stock. The origin of the family is thought to have been in southern Asia, which still has the most species.
The Ceyx and Ispidina species are mainly birds of wet rainforest or other woodland, and are not necessarily associated with water. The Alcedo kingfishers are usually closely associated with fresh water, often in open habitats although some are primarily forest birds.
and territorial. The pair excavates a burrow in an earth bank and lays two or more white eggs onto the bare surface. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks. Egg laying is staggered at one-day intervals so that if food is short only the older larger nestlings get fed. The chicks are naked, blind and helpless when they hatch, and stand on their heels, unlike any adult bird.
nymph
s from puddles. The will flycatch, and their bills are red bills are flattened to assist in the capture of insects. The Alcedo kingfishers are typically fish-eaters with black bills, but will also take aquatic invertebrates, spiders and lizards. A few species are mainly insectivorous and have red bills. Typically fish are caught by a dive into the water from a perch, although the kingfisher might hover briefly.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
group. The Alcedinidae once included all kingfishers, before the widespread recognition of Halcyonidae
Tree kingfisher
The tree kingfishers or wood kingfishers, family Halcyonidae, are the most numerous of the three families of birds in the kingfisher group, with between 56 and 61 species in around 12 genera, including several species of kookaburras. The family appears to have arisen in Indochina and the Maritime...
(tree-kingfishers) and Cerylidae
Water Kingfisher
The water kingfishers or Cerylidae are one of the three families of kingfishers, and are also known as the cerylid kingfishers. All six American species are in this family....
(water-kingfishers). The family is widespread through Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, through east and south Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
as far as Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, with one species, the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) also appearing in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and northern Asia. The origin of the family is thought to have been in Asia.
These are brightly plumaged compact birds with short tails, large heads and long bills
Beak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
. They feed on insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s or fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
, and lay white eggs in a self-excavated burrow
Burrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, so the burrowing way of life is quite popular among the...
. Both adults incubate the egg
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
s and feed the chicks.
Taxonomy
The river kingfishers family Alcedinidae is one of nine in the order CoraciiformesCoraciiformes
The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colorful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills...
, which also includes the motmot
Motmot
The motmots or Momotidae are a family of birds in the near passerine order Coraciiformes, which also includes the kingfishers, bee-eaters and rollers. All extant motmots are restricted to woodland or forest in the Neotropics, and the largest diversity is in Middle America. They have a colourful...
s, bee-eater
Bee-eater
The bee-eaters are a group of near-passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa and Asia but others occur in southern Europe, Australia, and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies, and usually elongated central tail feathers...
s, todies
Tody
The todies are a family, Todidae, of Caribbean birds in the order Coraciiformes, which also includes the kingfishers, bee-eaters and rollers. The family has one genus, Todus...
, roller
Roller
The rollers are an Old World family, Coraciidae, of near passerine birds. The group gets its name from the aerial acrobatics some of these birds perform during courtship or territorial flights. Rollers resemble crows in size and build, and share the colourful appearance of kingfishers and...
s, ground-roller
Ground-roller
The ground rollers are a small family of non-migratory near-passerine birds restricted to Madagascar.They are related to the kingfishers, bee-eaters and rollers...
s, Cuckoo Roller and two other families of kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
s. The rollers do not appear to be particularly closely related to the others groups, and the Coraciiformes are therefore probably polyphyletic
Polyphyly
A polyphyletic group is one whose members' last common ancestor is not a member of the group.For example, the group consisting of warm-blooded animals is polyphyletic, because it contains both mammals and birds, but the most recent common ancestor of mammals and birds was cold-blooded...
. In the past, all kingfishers were placed in the Alcedinidae, but it became clear that the three subfamilies diverged early, and the Halcyonidae (tree kingfisher|tree kingfishers) and Cerylidae (water kingfishers) are usually now treated as full families, with the Alcedinidae as the basal lineage in the kingfisher clade.
The taxonomy of the family is uncertain at present: it includes 22 to 24 species in two to four genera. The uncertainty arises from two small African species. The African Dwarf Kingfisher is sometimes placed in the monospecific genus Myioceyx, and sometimes with the Pygmy Kingfishers in Ispidina
Ispidina
Ispidina is a genus of very small insectivorous African water kingfishers. Its members are often absorbed into Ceyx .They are:* African Pygmy Kingfisher, Ispidina picta* African Dwarf Kingfisher, Ispidina lecontei...
. However, molecular analysis
Molecular phylogeny
Molecular phylogenetics is the analysis of hereditary molecular differences, mainly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. The result of a molecular phylogenetic analysis is expressed in a phylogenetic tree...
suggests that the Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher
Madagascar Pygmy-kingfisher
The Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family.It is endemic to Madagascar and found in western dry deciduous forests.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 24 July 2007....
is most closely related to the Malachite Kingfisher
Malachite Kingfisher
The Malachite Kingfisher is a river kingfisher which is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara. It is largely resident except for seasonal climate related movements....
, and that the present arrangement into Alcedo and Ceyx may need to be reviewed as it seems not to reflect the actual relationships (for example, the Azure Kingfisher
Azure Kingfisher
The Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea is a small kingfisher , in the river kingfisher family, Alcedinidae. It is found in Northern and Eastern Australia and Tasmania, as well as the lowlands of New Guinea and neighbouring islands, and out to North Maluku and Romang.It is a very colourful bird, with...
is closer to Ceyx erithacus).
| Species in taxonomic sequence | |
| Common name | Binomial |
|---|---|
| Genus Alcedo | |
| Blyth's Kingfisher Blyth's Kingfisher The Blyth's Kingfisher, Alcedo hercules, is a kingfisher distributed in Bangladesh, India, China, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam. It is found along streams in evergreen forest and adjacent open country from 200-1,200 m, mainly at 400-1,000 m.... |
Alcedo hercules |
| Common Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis |
| Half-collared Kingfisher Half-collared Kingfisher The Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata is a species of kingfisher that feeds almost exclusively on fish and can be found near water at all times. It can be found on shores and around larger bodies of water in southern and eastern Africa.... |
Alcedo semitorquata |
| Shining Blue Kingfisher Shining Blue Kingfisher The Shining-blue Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is found in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,... |
Alcedo quadribrachys |
| Blue-eared Kingfisher Blue-eared Kingfisher The Blue-eared Kingfisher, Alcedo meninting, is found in south and southeast Asia. This is a small kingfisher almost identical to the Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis... |
Alcedo meninting |
| Azure Kingfisher Azure Kingfisher The Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea is a small kingfisher , in the river kingfisher family, Alcedinidae. It is found in Northern and Eastern Australia and Tasmania, as well as the lowlands of New Guinea and neighbouring islands, and out to North Maluku and Romang.It is a very colourful bird, with... |
Alcedo azurea |
| Bismarck Kingfisher Bismarck Kingfisher The Bismarck Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family.It is endemic to Papua New Guinea.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, freshwater lakes, and freshwater marshes.... |
Alcedo websteri |
| Blue-banded Kingfisher Blue-banded Kingfisher The Blue-banded Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family.It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.... |
Alcedo euryzona |
| Indigo-banded Kingfisher Indigo-banded Kingfisher The Indigo-banded Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family.It is endemic to the Philippines, where it is a generally uncommon but locally common resident of the northern and central islands. There are two subspecies, the nominate race, which occurs on Luzon, Polillo, Mindoro,... |
Alcedo cyanopecta |
| Silvery Kingfisher Silvery Kingfisher The Silvery Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.... |
Alcedo argentata |
| Malachite Kingfisher Malachite Kingfisher The Malachite Kingfisher is a river kingfisher which is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara. It is largely resident except for seasonal climate related movements.... |
Alcedo cristata |
| Madagascar Malachite Kingfisher Malachite Kingfisher The Malachite Kingfisher is a river kingfisher which is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara. It is largely resident except for seasonal climate related movements.... |
Alcedo vintsioides |
| White-bellied Kingfisher White-bellied Kingfisher The White-bellied Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, São Tomé and... |
Alcedo leucogaster |
| Cerulean Kingfisher | Alcedo coerulescens |
| Little Kingfisher Little Kingfisher The Little Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family. It is found in open forest, woodland, swamps and mangroves in Australia , Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.-Description:The Little Kingfisher is 11–13 cm long with a blue back and head and a white... |
Alcedo pusilla |
| Príncipe Kingfisher Príncipe Kingfisher The Príncipe Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family.It is endemic to São Tomé and Príncipe.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 24 July 2007.... |
Alcedo nais |
| São Tomé Kingfisher São Tomé Kingfisher The São Tomé Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family.It is endemic to São Tomé and Príncipe.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 24 July 2007.... |
Alcedo thomensis |
| Genus Ceyx | |
| Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher | Ceyx erithacus |
| Philippine Dwarf Kingfisher Philippine Dwarf Kingfisher The Philippine Dwarf Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family.It is endemic to the Philippines.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:... |
Ceyx melanurus |
| Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher | Ceyx fallax |
| Rufous-backed Kingfisher Rufous-backed Kingfisher The Rufous-backed Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family.It is found in Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand in tropical lowland forests near lakeshores and streamsides... |
Ceyx rufidorsa |
| Variable Dwarf Kingfisher | Ceyx lepidus |
| Genus Ispidina | |
| Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher Madagascar Pygmy-kingfisher The Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family.It is endemic to Madagascar and found in western dry deciduous forests.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 24 July 2007.... |
Ispidina madagascariensis |
| African Pygmy Kingfisher | Ispidina picta |
| African Dwarf Kingfisher | Ispidina lecontei |
Description
Bismarck Kingfisher
The Bismarck Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family.It is endemic to Papua New Guinea.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, freshwater lakes, and freshwater marshes....
, but most species show some sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
, ranging from a different bill colour as with Common Kingfisher to a completely different appearance. The male Blue-banded Kingfisher
Blue-banded Kingfisher
The Blue-banded Kingfisher is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family.It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand....
has white underparts with a blue breast band, whereas the female has orange underparts.
The small kingfishers that make up the rest of the family have blue or orange upperparts and white or buff underparts, and show little sexual variation. Across the family, the bill colour is linked to diet. The insectivorous species have red bills, and the fish-eaters have black bills.
When perched, kingfishers sit quite upright, and the flight is fast and direct. The call is typically a simple high-pitched squeak, often given in flight.
Distribution and habitat
American green kingfisher
The American green kingfishers are the Chloroceryle genus of kingfishers, which are native to tropical Central and South America, with one species extending north to south Texas.They comprise four species:...
s are believed to have derived from alcedinid stock. The origin of the family is thought to have been in southern Asia, which still has the most species.
The Ceyx and Ispidina species are mainly birds of wet rainforest or other woodland, and are not necessarily associated with water. The Alcedo kingfishers are usually closely associated with fresh water, often in open habitats although some are primarily forest birds.
Breeding
River kingfishers are monogamousMonogamy
Monogamy /Gr. μονός+γάμος - one+marriage/ a form of marriage in which an individual has only one spouse at any one time. In current usage monogamy often refers to having one sexual partner irrespective of marriage or reproduction...
and territorial. The pair excavates a burrow in an earth bank and lays two or more white eggs onto the bare surface. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks. Egg laying is staggered at one-day intervals so that if food is short only the older larger nestlings get fed. The chicks are naked, blind and helpless when they hatch, and stand on their heels, unlike any adult bird.
Feeding
The small Ceyx and Ispidina species feed mainly on insects and spiders, but also take tadpoles, frogs and mayflyMayfly
Mayflies are insects which belong to the Order Ephemeroptera . They have been placed into an ancient group of insects termed the Palaeoptera, which also contains dragonflies and damselflies...
nymph
Nymph (biology)
In biology, a nymph is the immature form of some invertebrates, particularly insects, which undergoes gradual metamorphosis before reaching its adult stage. Unlike a typical larva, a nymph's overall form already resembles that of the adult. In addition, while a nymph moults it never enters a...
s from puddles. The will flycatch, and their bills are red bills are flattened to assist in the capture of insects. The Alcedo kingfishers are typically fish-eaters with black bills, but will also take aquatic invertebrates, spiders and lizards. A few species are mainly insectivorous and have red bills. Typically fish are caught by a dive into the water from a perch, although the kingfisher might hover briefly.
External links
- Kingfisher videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Kingfisher sounds in the xeno-canto collection