Giant kingfisher

Description:

The Giant kingfisher is fairly common in southern Africa, and is found mainly in South Africa and Zimbabwe, living in many types of aquatic habitats. It feeds mainly on crabs, with fish largely making up the rest of its diet. Both sexes excavate the nest, which takes about 7 days, and is dug into vertical sandbanks. Amazingly, they can excavate tunnels as long as 8.45m!. It lays 3-5 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes, for 25-27 days. The nestlings are fed mainly by the male, once every 48-213 minutes. They seem to stay in the nest for about 37 days, after which they are still dependent on their parents for at least 21 days.

Notes:

On my next visit to the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary, I'll try and get some proper shots of this guy.