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Alcedo cristata
This little (approx 13-14cm in length) flying gem is an aquatic kingfisher, easily distinguished by a turquoise-and-black barred crown extending down to the eye. It has mainly blue upperparts and orange to rufous underparts, sporting white chin and ears. On shots 1 to 4 is the juvenile, unmistakable by its black bill - it also have slightly duller blue and rufous body colors. The adult sports a bright red long and typically kingfisher shaped bill.
Malachite kingfisher is a common sub-saharan African species. This is an aquatic species, thriving in reeds and rank vegetation near slow moving water or ponds, where it feeds on small fish, frogs and tadpoles, aquatic insects and crabs. Here, seen on banks of Awasa lake, one of the Rift Valley lakes in Ethiopia, and a birdwatcher and nature-watcher real paradise...
Some newer literature places this species in a new (?) genus, Corythornis - I kept the old names of genus, Alcedo, as I still find it in all of my field books... There are five recognized sub-species; judging by the range, this spotting should be A. cristata stuartkeithi.
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