River Kingfishers
The river kingfishers or Alcedinidae, are one of the three families of bird in the kingfisher group.
The family is widespread through Africa, through east and south Asia as far as Australia, with one species, the River Kingfisher or European Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) also appearing in Europe and northern Asia. The origin of the family is thought to have been in Asia.
The taxonomy of the family is uncertain at present: it includes 22 to 24 species in 2 to 4 genera. The uncertaintity arises from two small African species. The Dwarf Kingfisher is sometimes placed in the monospecific genus Myioceyx, and sometimes with the Pygmy Kingfishers in Ispidina. However, molecular analysis (Moyle, 2006) suggests that the Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher is most closely related to the Malachite Kingfisher, and that the present arrangement into Alcedo and Ceyx needs to be reviewed as it seems not to reflect the actual relationships (for example, the Azure Kingfisher is closer to Ceyx erithacus).
Species list:
- Blyth's Kingfisher, Alcedo hercules
- European Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
- Half-collared Kingfisher, Alcedo semitorquata: 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.
- Shining-blue Kingfisher, Alcedo quadribrachys
- Blue-eared Kingfisher, Alcedo meninting
Azure Kingfishers Alcedo azurea: The Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea is a small kingfisher, in the river kingfisher family, Alcedinidae. It is found in North and Eastern Australia - Relevant Web Resource: Azure Kingfisher (Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodge)- Bismarck Kingfisher, Alcedo websteri
- Blue-banded Kingfisher, Alcedo euryzona
- Indigo-banded Kingfisher, Alcedo cyanopecta
- Silvery Kingfisher, Alcedo argentata
- Malachite Kingfisher, Alcedo cristata
- Madagascar Malachite Kingfisher, Alcedo vintsioides
- White-bellied Kingfisher, Alcedo leucogaster
- Small Blue Kingfisher, Alcedo coerulescens
- Little Kingfisher, Alcedo pusilla
- Príncipe Kingfisher, Alcedo nais
- São Tomé Kingfisher, Alcedo thomensis
- Black-backed Kingfisher, Ceyx erithacus
- Philippine Kingfisher, Ceyx melanurus
- Sulawesi Kingfisher, Ceyx fallax
- Rufous-backed Kingfisher, Ceyx rufidorsa
- Variable Kingfisher, Ceyx lepidus
- Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher, Ispidina madagascariensis
- African Pygmy Kingfisher, Ispidina picta
- Dwarf Kingfisher, Ispidina lecontei
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