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This thread is about Giant Kingfishers only.
Giant Kingfisher ( Megaceryle maximus [M. maxima] )

Classification:
Order: Coraciformes
Family: Cerylidae
Genus: Megaceryle

Other names:
Afrikaans: Reusevisvanger
French: Martin-pêcheur géant (Alcyon géant)
German: Riesenfischer, Rieseneisvogel
Dutch: Afrikaanse Reuzenijsvogel
Portuguese: Pica-peixe-gigante

The Giant Kingfisher (38-43 cm) is one of the world's two largest members of the family, with only the Laughing Kookaburra (a non-aquatic kingfisher of Australia) as a close competitor. It is a resident breeding bird over most of the continent south of the Sahara Desert with the exception of the arid southwest.
Since kingfishers the size of crows aren't that common, it is unmistakeable with its long heavy bill, long crest, dark white-spotted back and rufous breast (male) or belly (female).
The juvenile male has a black-speckled, chestnut breast; the juvenile female has a white breast.

Being one of the four truly aquatic kingfishers (the other three are Malachite Kingfisher, Half-collared Kingfisher, and Pied Kingfisher) represented in Southern and East Africa, it feeds exclusively on fish or other aquatic creatures like crabs and frogs. It hunts in the typical kingfisher way by diving from a perch, and rarely hovers.

There are two subspecies, M. m. maximus, found in open country, and M. m. giganteus in the rainforest. The forest race is darker, less spotted above, and more barred below than M. m. maximus, but the two forms intergrade along the forest edge zone.

Habitat: Wooded streams and dams, fast-flowing rivers in mountainous areas, and coastal lagoons.

Breeding: From August to January, 3-5 eggs. They breed in burrows/tunnels excavated into the banks of a river, and are strongly territorial.

Sound: A loud, harsh "kahk-kah-kahk".

Status: Common resident.

*edit: added quote originally posted by francoisd in various other bird factsheets.
**edit: link to Malachite Kingfisher topic added.

Seen on the S100 on the 05/03/06

Taken on the Causeway out of Shingwedzi Rest Camp, KNP, Feb 2005

Seen from another perspective at Lower Sabie:

Balule bridge over Olifants - Sept 2006

This guy was sitting on the railing of the bridge at Lower Sabie December 30 & 31, 2006. He let us get incredibly close and did not seem bothered in the least. It was thrilling to see the detail of his feathers, and the markings on his beak like a well-worn tool.

We have been extremely lucky on the low water bidge near Lower Sabie.
It was the first time that we saw one.


All pics are great , but I love the perspective of your second pic lisa .

Wow guys we have some really great pictures here! I saw my first one in Dec in that picnic spot on the way to the Giriondo Border post. (Forgot the name) At first it was a huge shape in the trees and then I id'd it.

Other places I have seen them recently were at Sunset Dam, the ones from the LS low water bridge probably having a change of scenery, and looking left from the restaurant area at Letaba. We also usually see them at Matambeni hide near there, and in the Croc River from M*rl*th P*rk.

Some interesting interaction between 2 Giant Kingfishers.

I got this Giant kingfisher at the bridge at Lower Sabie.
Once it closed his eyes by covering it with his nictitating membrane.
If you have a close look at the third picture you can see the bridge, the river, the banks, the sun and the blue sky mirroring in its eye.





The whole story you can find in my Kruger story: "June 18th, Tenth day, Fighting in the dark . . . , Monday – Part 2".
Just follow the below link.

Giant kingfisher female with catch... a banded tilapia, Tilapia sparmanii


Large view

on the Olifants bridge:

I had the pleasure of watching this fellow bath.

Seen on the Lower Sabie bridge in March this year.

Link

Link