Photo: Gerrie van Vuuren / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Malachite Kingfisher
Corythornis cristatus
Malachite Kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus) — Kingfishers & Rollers of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Malachite Kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus) is a member of the Alcedinidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 15.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Coraciiformes
- Family Alcedinidae Kingfishers
- Genus Corythornis
- Species cristatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 15.7 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Alcedinidae
- Order
- Coraciiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Malachite Kingfisher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Malachite Kingfisher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Malachite Kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus) is a species of bird in the Alcedinidae family, part of the order Coraciiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 15.7 g, with a wing length of about 5.6 cm and a tail of around 2.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 14.4 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Malachite Kingfisher?
The Malachite Kingfisher is a small bird that weighs around 15.7 g.
Where does the Malachite Kingfisher live?
The Malachite Kingfisher is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Malachite Kingfisher belong to?
The Malachite Kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus) belongs to the Alcedinidae family, in the order Coraciiformes.
What does the Malachite Kingfisher eat?
The Malachite Kingfisher hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Malachite Kingfisher migrate?
The Malachite Kingfisher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Malachite Kingfisher endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Malachite Kingfisher make?
1 real field recording of the Malachite Kingfisher — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Malachite Kingfisher's range?
The Malachite Kingfisher has a mapped global range of about 14.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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