Automatically translated. This page was translated automatically from German and has not been reviewed by our editors.Show original
Birds
Half-collared kingfisher
Half-collared kingfisher · Alcedo semitorquata
Half-collared kingfishers flash their cobalt-blue plumage along shaded river courses. If you look closely, you’ll experience real kingfisher moments.
Fact file
- Size
- About 18 cm long, appears clearly smaller and more delicately built than many other kingfishers
- Males and females
- Male and female look almost identical, females sometimes minimally duller in colour
- Sounds
- Short, sharp whistle as the typical call, especially in flight
- Diet
- Hunts small fish, aquatic insects and crustaceans from a perch
- Offspring
- Breeding season from September to January, usually 3 to 4 eggs in nesting burrows in steep banks
How to identify Half-collared kingfisher
The half-collared kingfisher is instantly recognisable by its glossy cobalt-blue back and turquoise wing coverts. Its underside shines pure white, which makes the contrast with the striking upperparts particularly noticeable. Another characteristic is the narrow white patch on the sides of the neck, which does not form a complete collar – hence the name ‘half-collared’.
At about 18 centimetres in length, the half-collared kingfisher appears dainty and compact. The large, powerful bill and short legs are typical of a kingfisher. Its elegant silhouette and fine feather sheen clearly distinguish it from other kingfishers such as the more common pied kingfisher.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
- one place where you can see Half-collared kingfisher
Where Half-collared kingfisher live
South Africa
Discover Half-collared kingfisher on your trip.
The app shows you where and when to see wildlife along your route.
