Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Afrikaans name: Bruinkopvisvanger

Brown-hooded Kingfishers are common in some residential areas

Photo © Steven Herbert

Halcyon albiventris

The Brown-hooded Kingfisher is a common and widespread bird in South Africa. It is found in the southern and eastern regions of the country.

Despite being a kingfisher this bird does not catch fish. Its food consists mainly of insects as well as smaller birds, frogs and reptiles.

The Brown-hooded Kingfisher nests in a tunnel in a bank. Both sexes assist in digging the tunnel. It lays between 2 and 5 eggs. The pair remain together for life.

This bird weighs around 60 grams and is around 24 cm in length.

The habitats favoured by the Brown-hooded Kingfisher include parks, gardens, bushveld, forest edges and thornveld.

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References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 172

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 99

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 99

African Wildlife - A photographic safari - Author: Nigel and Wendy Dennis - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 96

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 93

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 130

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 57

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Year Published: - Page: 137

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 145

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 46

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Year Published: 2005 - Page: 46

Everyone's Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 17

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 124

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Year Published: 2017 - Page: 79

Geoff Lockwood's Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Year Published: - Page: 83

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 178

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 252

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 252

Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa - 2nd edi - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 411

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 163

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 274

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 287

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 378

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 375

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 250

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 258

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 68

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 122

List of South African Birds